Well...just two weeks into her term as speaker. We find out that she kicked a little butt.
Sworn in just over two weeks ago as the first female speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi wasted no time showing who's boss.And the American people? They kind of like that San Francisco liberal a hell of a lot more than that Texan 'cowboy':The California Democrat rammed six major bills through the House at breakneck speed, stomped out smoking privileges near the House floor, partially sidelined a powerful Democratic committee chairman and decided she liked traditionally Republican office space so much she claimed it for herself.
By Democrats' timekeeping, she did it all in far under the 100 legislative hours she had allotted.
"We did what we promised the American people we would," Pelosi declared on Friday, pledging it was "just the beginning."
Pelosi's initial agenda, completed Thursday, included measures with wide popular support: increasing the minimum wage, broadening stem cell research, allowing government bargaining on Medicare drug prices, cutting student loan costs, putting in place terrorism-fighting recommendations from the Sept. 11 commission and rolling back energy company tax breaks.
Each bill passed with bipartisan majorities and Pelosi triumphantly gaveled down the votes, at one point banging the gavel so enthusiastically that it left a small dent in the podium.
The Washington press corps must be pretty pissed that Pelosi is ruining their preordained story. Maybe they can write some more stories about her choice in outfits.Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
Approve 33
Disapprove 65Do you approve or disapprove of the way Nancy Pelosi is handling her job as speaker of the House?
Approve 54
Disapprove 25The pollsters helpfully compare the failed Pelosi speakership with Newt Gingrich's successful kick-ass revolutionary one (approve/disapprove):
12/20/94 (as incoming speakers): 35/43
1/4/95: 35/37
1/29/95: 40/48
3/5/95: 38/51
No comments:
Post a Comment