Pelosi to GOP: ‘We had an election… The American people agreed with us’
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ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf reports:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a press conference to tout Congressional passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (a bill that was stymied by Republicans in the Senate last year) and will become the first legislation signed into law by President Obama.
But the story of the day today is on the massive $825 billion + stimulus bill wending its way through Congress.
Pelosi took umbrage when asked about complaints by Republicans today after their meeting with President Obama LINK: that he seemed willing to work with Republicans while Pelosi and Democrats in Congress seem hollow in their efforts at bipartisanship.
She said she Democrats have met with Republicans in committee on the stimulus, before the inauguration and now the President has met with them too. She said Republicans were given 25 hours of debate in relevant committees to provide input on the stimulus and will be given a vote on their own substitute.
Really, she implied, what Republicans are complaining about is losing the election.
"They had opportunity to make their views heard and put on the table," Pelosi said. "Now, we had an election that was about our different views and the direction our country was going in. We had a different point of view. The American people agreed with us. Bipartisanship means giving an opportunity to make their voices heard and maybe to persuade in the marketplace of ideas. It does not mean we will have a continuation of the last eight years of failed economic policies that have taken us where we are today. And so in the spirit of listening to the American people – Democrats, Republicans, Independents…" she said Democrats created a package they felt would create jobs and seek to stabilize the economy in a fiscally sound way.
It was pointed out to Pelosi that the stimulus is relying on largely partisan support. What does that say about bipartisanship?
"It says that some of us have heard the voices of the American people and their desire for change," she said before reciting her pitch for the bill: "This legislation has a strategic vision of taking us into the future. And in the near near future to create good paying jobs. And in the near future to continue job creation to stabilize the economy. Its about job creation and its about green technologies, building the infrastructure of America in a way that reduces our dependence on foreign oil versus climate change…"
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As an Obama supporter and a Democrat I’m almost now more concerned by Peolosi’s tone on this. It really does seem that some of this Bill contains some old Democratic ideas that don’t have much to do with jobs. Could it be the House Dems are playing by the old rules. Come on – EVERYONE needs to get together on this – for a change.
Posted by: Larry J | January 27, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
Obama won not just because of his ideas, but because so many Americans are sick and tired of the partisanship. ALL members of Congress should take that into consideration or be writing a resume after you get voted out.
Posted by: Paige | January 27, 2009, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
The Republican economic theories have had a head-on with reality.
We tried shipping our jobs to countries without meaningful environmental protections.
We tried massive tax cuts for the wealthy and crumbs for the middle class.
We tried ‘the market will regulate itself’.
We tried low MPG standards, and drill-baby-drill.
TIME FOR A REBOOT. Insanity is when you keep doing the same thing, expecting a different outcome.
Posted by: John | January 27, 2009, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
Fight them or join them GOP. If you want to cease to be a party, cave in to the DNC and die!
Posted by: hmn... | January 27, 2009, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
Pelosi, not quite. People are just tired of the stupid wars. That’s what did the republicans in. The economy is not safe in either party’s hands. How is that robust pay increase treating you?
Posted by: Huh | January 27, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Pelosi ??? not all Americans agreed with your lying party.
Posted by: not | January 27, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
John – Market was never free. The federal reserve has seen to that. Don’t fall for such a fallacy. The market has always been distorted by the fed’s policies which is in essence government intervention.
Posted by: Huh | January 27, 2009, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
John “TIME FOR A REBOOT. Insanity is when you keep doing the same thing, expecting a different outcome.”
I agree, but here is the real insanity…
Borrowing and spending to fix the problem of too much borrowing and spending is fundamentally insane.
Posted by: Huh | January 27, 2009, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
They overwhelming voted Adolph Hitler into office to. Does not make what he did right either.
Pelosi find another argument why you want a dictatorship ruled by King Obama and Ted Kennedy
Posted by: homer s | January 27, 2009, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
Pelosi looks like she had to many face lifts.
Posted by: ha ha | January 27, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
She’s a real nutter.
Posted by: getlost | January 27, 2009, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
Hmmm…. Her tone doesn’t sound to friendly! I’m just one of the 57 million that voted against her values!
Posted by: Barry G | January 27, 2009, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
What happened to the first chunk of money that was doled out by the past republican president? What about the “pork” that was dished out for the past eight years? Shouldn’t the dems investigat and scrutinize (like the republicans are doing now with President Obama’s plan) and share all information with the american people. Pelosi is right on target. The American people were duped for eight years and have demanded a change. Go with the flow all you hatemongers.
Posted by: Antoinette | January 27, 2009, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm
@Huh,
Educate yourself.
The treasury borrows money by selling bonds at auction. Because of the poor performance of all world markets and distrust in basically every other financial investment, the U.S. government can borrow money at about 2%.
They should borrow another $350-1000 Billion and start making direct loans to small businesses, college students, qualified home buyers or any credit worthy consumers who want to buy a refridgerator.
For example, they could make $300 Billion in home/refinance loans at 4% and still make a profit. And don’t tell me the federal government can’t run make sound lending decisions. They could hire some of the people from the smaller community banks, the ones who didn’t go for the high profit/fatal risk of mortgage backed securities.
These now toxic securities were entirly invented in the private sector and and brought the world to the brink of ruin.
The house is on fire. Only a bunk of Hoovers want to stick with the losing Republican economic playbook.
Posted by: John | January 27, 2009, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Bush and His Republican congress is the blame for all of this mess. Bush has bankrupted everything he has ever touched and then he had a republican congress that were nothing but his yes-men. To all of you that voted Republican, this is your pay-back for be so stupid.
Posted by: Dave Peck | January 28, 2009, 12:56 am 12:56 am
Nancy Pelosi needs to be accountable for Padding her own pockets. (read following)Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who promised a new era of ethics enforcement in the House of Representatives, snuck a $25 million gift to her husband, Paul Pelosi, in a $15 billion Water Resources Development Act recently passed by Congress. The pet project involved renovating ports in Speaker Pelosi’s home base of San Francisco. Pelosi just happens to own apartment buildings near the areas targeted for improvement, and will almost certainly experience a significant boost in property value as a result of Pelosi’s earmark. Earlier in the year, Pelosi found herself in hot water for demanding access to a luxury Air Force jet to ferry the Speaker and her entourage back and forth from San Francisco non-stop, in unprecedented request which was wisely rejected by the Pentagon. And under Pelosi’s leadership, the House ethics process remains essentially shut down – which protects members in both parties from accountability.
Posted by: Sally | January 28, 2009, 2:09 am 2:09 am
“They should borrow another $350-1000 Billion”
Antoinette- who is this “they” you refer to? Unless I’m mistaken, “they” = “me”. I don’t need a loan, I don’t want a loan, and I don’t want to pay future interest on a loan that I don’t want. Get it?
Posted by: Matt | January 28, 2009, 3:13 am 3:13 am
Any fool can see these people (congress) don’t know what they are doing … and are totally irresponsible when management of funds is involved … they only know one thing and that is to spend … I doubt if any of these freeloaders has even taken the time to read any of these bills … just a bunch rich lawyers pretending to have the peoples interest at heart
Posted by: Mike | January 28, 2009, 9:55 am 9:55 am
Earth to Peolosi:
True more people voted for
President Obama than for McCain.
However You Don’t have any Huge
Mandate to do anything you want to do!
Almost 60 million Americans voted
against President Obama!
In any case you Dems have comfortable
majorities in both houses.
You can pass this flawed non-stimulus
bill on your own. Stop whining.
We Republicans will not give you cover.
It it succeeds you get all the glory,
and if it fails you get the blame.
By the way by 2010 you Dems will have been in control for 4 years so this
stimulus had better improve the
economy before those elections.
Posted by: reaganfan | January 28, 2009, 11:17 am 11:17 am
Mike: You hit the nail on the head.
These elites in both parties live in
their own world.
That explains why so many of them,
both Dems and Repubs voted to
confirm Geithner the tax cheat as
Treasury Secretary! He belongs to
the Club!
Posted by: reaganfan | January 28, 2009, 11:20 am 11:20 am
What gall this fraud has. Her party was elected in spite of creating the financial issues we are now experiencing. Yes Barney Franks, Maxine Waters and Greg Meeks created this mess by refusing any regulation over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They were the ones called “friends of Fannie”. They are the ones who made the banks give loans to subprime borrowers. These subprime borrowers are THEIR constituants, not the repubs.
After a coordinated effort for 4 years condemning Bush, she is dreaming if tshe thinks she gets differnt treatment because, they bought an election by funding acorn. The only way to get the american people on the same page is to get rid of ALL the pols who created this mess. DON’T FORGET, THE DEMS HAVE HAD THE POWER THE LAST 2 YEARS LEADING UP TO THE CURRENT FINANCIAL FIASCO.
So somehow we are supposed to roll over and let them continue the same policies that created the hell the american people are going thru. No way.
Pelosi – What a wack job. Franks – what a criminal. Did you know his boyfriend/lover was one who benefited significantly from the Dems support of Fannie. Check it out. What a disgusting bunch.
Posted by: Brock | January 28, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
THIS IS INSANE!!! Over 50% of the Pork Bill is going to ‘create jobs’ in sectors of the economy where unemployment is below 4%. The total cost for creating jobs in the governmental sector is around $600,000 per job. Only 8% of the Pork Bill will go to stimulus according the CBO which is run by the Democrats. These people have no idea what they are doing!! They are just paying off their supporters and calling it stimulus. This isn’t stimulus, it is nothing but pork and borders on being criminal.
Posted by: MadJayhawk | January 28, 2009, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
All Hail Queen Pelosi! The queen has spoken, and all of you GOPers had better fall in line or her minions will come after you. LOL. What a whack job she is…give her a little power and she thinks she runs the mansion.
Posted by: Niko_in_Oakland | January 28, 2009, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
I find it humorous that even in the blogs you can see bipartisianship will never work. First i will address the fact the economic mess started during the Clinton years – legislation passed that allowed the banks to lower their standards for giving out loans – (knowing that Fannie Mae etc would buy them up)… Yes Bush wasn’t the brightest bulb on the tree and yes he did alot that most people disagreed with….but in the end if you need to point the finger point it back at the Congress (all of them) – they do not look out for anyones interests nor do they care – how can a Congress have such a low approval rating ( with Dems being the majority) and they continually get the same greedy self centered and idiotic people back? When Pelosi speaks yes you should be very wary not because she is a Dem but becausse she is shrewd and decieptive
Posted by: Steve | January 29, 2009, 9:01 am 9:01 am
Pelosi is probably more dangerous for America’s well being than Bin Laden is, not only does she have the Hitlerette mentality but she epitomises a leftist dreamer who cannot connect cause and effect.
When the country is crying out for hard nosed realists, both in areas financial and war, looks like you have yourself a bunch of spendthrift dreamers.
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