Sunday, April 18, 2010

Pelosi: Two 'pillars' down, one more to go in passing Obama's 'blueprint'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) said the Democrats are one bill away from completing President Barack Obama’s “blueprint for American prosperity.”

“We have passed two of the three pillars in the historic healthcare and education reform and are working towards a clean energy and climate agenda in Congress,” Pelosi said in her remarks to the California Democratic Party state convention in Los Angeles on Saturday. “And essential to prosperity for middle-income Americans is reining in Wall Street.”

“The House has passed Wall Street reform, and working with our colleagues in the Senate, we will ensure that never again will those who are reckless on Wall Street make people jobless on Main Street,” she said.

During her speech, Pelosi singled out several members of the California delegation who were in attendance. “We must reelect and retain the extraordinary leadership of my colleagues in Congress who are here today,” she said.

After returning from the spring recess, House Dems moved into a light schedule with short weeks and relatively easy votes over the next seven weeks to smooth the way for campaign season.

And just hours before completing work for 2009, Pelosi summoned reporters to her office and declared that she was "in campaign mode."

On Saturday, she encouraged those at her state's Democratic convention to help Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s (D-Calif.) reelection campaign, according to the Orange County Register. Sanchez is expected to face a strong challenge from well-funded state Assemblyman Van Tran (R).

Pelosi also praised Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) for being “fabulous.”

Boxer is a “champion for creating  jobs, protecting our environment, and educating our children, someone whom it is our top priority to re-elect this year,” Pelosi said.

The three-term senator is expected to face a tough campaign this cycle. President Barack Obama will be in Los Angeles on Monday for a star-studded fundraiser to boost Boxer's campaign.

By Sean J. Miller - 04/17/10 06:51 PM ET

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