Pelosi Stands Firm On Iraq
Speaker resolves to pass bill despite Bush veto threat.
May 20, 2007 — -- As the standoff over Iraq war funding continues, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is standing firm in her resolve to pass the legislation by next weekend, the California congresswoman told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in an exclusive "This Week" interview.
"By the time we leave here to honor our war veterans and those who have given their lives for our country on Memorial Day weekend, we will have legislation to fund the troops," Pelosi said.
But even with the White House adamant about vetoing any bill with a deadline for withdrawal, Pelosi is not backing down on her demand for some form of "accountability" in the bill.
"But if the president says, 'No accountability; I want a blank check with a war without end,' then we'll have to oppose that," she said.
Despite recent concessions put forth by Democrats, such as the offer to grant Bush the authority to waive deadlines and another proposal to drop domestic spending in exchange for the president's acceptance of a timeline, Pelosi claimed the president "refuses to listen."
"When it comes to the war in Iraq, the president has a tin ear. He just cannot hear except that which he wants to hear on it," she said.
And while an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., which ties benchmarks to reconstruction aid, has gained bipartisan support, Pelosi said it is "too little, too late."
But the speaker's view on the immigration reform bill proposed this week falls more in line with that of President Bush.
"I would hope that in the amendment process that the bill would be improved -- but I agree with the president; it's a good first step," Pelosi said.
In speaking with Stephanopoulos, Pelosi expressed concerns for the point system and family reunification principles outlined in the bill, while also emphasizing her opposition to amnesty.
Just five months after becoming the first female speaker of the House, Pelosi fielded questions on the status of her campaign pledge to quickly pass six new laws in the current year, including a minimum wage hike and a bill implementing all of the 9-11 Commission's recommendations. While some of the bills have passed the House, none have become law.
Asked if she fears being tagged a "do-nothing Congress", Pelosi put the onus on the president, saying he is the only one who can sign a bill into law.
"I said it would take a woman to clean House," she said. "We're draining the swamp."
But Pelosi expressed support for her close ally, Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pa., just as Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., plans to file a formal reprimand against Murtha for allegedly violating House ethics.
"I think Mr. Murtha's reputation for bipartisanship will hold him in good stead," she said.
The speaker admitted that the prospect of a female president in 2008 was exciting.
"I'd be very proud," she said, "if President -- Sen. Clinton -- became President Clinton, because you and I both know, when the Clintons were in the White House we had excellence in the appointments and great competence in running the agencies of government."