Last night I had planned to leave the office early to read and get a little extra sleep before the big health care day. I am reading Fighting Bob La Follette’s biography, at the suggestion of Fighting Dave Obey, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
Around 10:30, my phone rings. “Are you available to talk to the Speaker?” Of course! There is a long pause. And then an even longer pause. Our Speaker is working the phones at 10:30 at night, and I suspect I’m not going to be the last call.
An apology that it’s taking so long.
Speaker Pelosi comes on, apologizing to me for calling so late!
While she comes to the point of her call, it is done in a thoughtful and gracious manner, as if she has all the time in the world to discuss the matter. Luckily, by absolute chance, the last item I had worked with before leaving the office was just what she wished to discuss – health reform. I feel like a fourth grader proudly racing through the times table at the front of the class, or more accurately, being called on in law school to explain a case on one of those rare occasions where I had actually briefed it the day before. I feel a mixture of pride and relief.
The Speaker continues, and I am compelled to ask if there is any other way I can help in her efforts. She responds with three suggestions that are appropriate to my skill set. She concludes on a positive and gracious note and is quickly off the line to the next of, what I imagine is an endless list of calls and meetings. As she moves onto her next assignment, I am brought back to the present and the historic day ahead.
I am thinking about the stunning gap between the image of the sad screamers on the Mall during the week, with the strangest and cruelest depictions with harsh words and how it contrasts with the leadership I have seen exhibited in this House. Despite the most intense pressure ever inflicted on a person in leadership and her office, and with dire national circumstances, the Speaker has lead with determination.
Much has been made of our new President inheriting the most difficult set of circumstance of, perhaps, any president in history; two wars, an economy in freefall handed off to him and 12 consecutive months of job losses. What is not appreciated is that those same set of circumstance that face our President are also Speaker Pelosi’s set of challenges.
She has the task of managing the House of Representatives, the cornerstone of legislative activity, the People’s House. The Senate remains a mystery, even to the Senator’s themselves due to the impact of special interests wildly magnified, the role of a handful of politicians representing a tiny percentage of America, and greatly exaggerated by rule, convention and the structure.
And, for the first time in modern history, Speaker Pelosi has assumed her position with a complete collapse of responsible Republican participation. John Boehner famously declared last winter, shortly after the House geared up for operations, that since they couldn’t impose their will and get their way, it was decided that they were not going to be legislators; they were going to be communicators. They have communicated, in the most inflammatory and unproductive manner. Despite the personal attacks and the pressure, the Speaker continues to have much more favorable rating than Mr. Boehner. Despite the fact that some of her negatives are from the other side of the spectrum by those who wish that she would have been more aggressive and more dramatic in her approach to health reform, she continues to move this country forward.
We have begun what may be a long day or a long weekend to take one of the most important steps in healthcare and government action in history, probably more meaningful than the decision to have government organized and paid-for health care for our seniors or, 44 years ago, government health care for our veterans. This may be even more critical.
It’s time for reform. Let’s get this done. Millions of people have no health insurance and are suffering. The federal budget will be bankrupt if we don’t modernize Medicare. Our families are strugging in these difficult economic times, which means more and more will lose their increasingly inadequate and expensive insurance if we don’t act.
I began this day feeling encouraged and optimistic; encouraged because this year we have put together the most comprehensive health reform in history, despite the pressures. Optimistic because amongst all the leaders that I have been able to work with who have invested so much in this process, there is a Speaker who is tireless, focused, idealistic and pragmatic and is committed to do whatever is humanly possible – and maybe some things that aren’t – to deliver for the American people.
Follow Rep. Earl Blumenauer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/repblumenauer
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When I watched the celebratio
History will be harsh on them.
Nobody has dealt with K street or Wall street. Wars are killing our young and destroying our economy. Our borders are totally porous. Our jails are full. Schools are falling apart and people are depressed.
Why is Ms. Pelosi smiling so happily. Let other leaders have a chance to make this work.
Nancy Pelosi has always been a champion. And so are you.
So many Americans need that Faith Based money spent in the Communitie
This is money that can go for Health Care for the poor and the seriously ill.
who worked so long & hard to pass the beginning of real HealthCare
Party, who turned it's back on AMERICANS, Today. A day of Infamy for the Republican Conservati
Party of NO.
He voted yes in spite of all the pressure put on him by his fellow
Republican
pressure, and ostracizin
not stop him from voting with his conscience
constituen
I really like that we can hear from them directly sometimes on the Huff Post.
Beware all armchair critics - this piece is riddled with true facts!
And may I thank Speaker Pelosi in these pages. I am moved to tears by my gratitude. We are one more step closer to me not having to watch young mothers crying in the staff room over not having health care for their babies. Thank you, all.