My attempt to liveblog the questions asked of and answered by Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the NN10 Saturday keynote.
Questions were submitted in writing, by email, Facebook and by tweet.
Any errors in transcription are mine, not the Speaker's.
(Intro going on now by Pelosi.)
Holy Schnieke! A taped message to NN10 from President Obama!
Nancy answering questions.
Q) Congrats on passing DADT repeal in House. Majority of Americans support ENDA. You and Obama have been strong advocates but ENDA has been stuck in committee. When do you see it passing?
A) ENDA has been a part of my being since going to Congress. This is an absolute priority for me and Dem caucus. Working very hard to clarify language to remove some opposition. It's sad that such a bill needs to be passed to prevent discrimination in the workplace. We passed hate crime legislation, which was fully inclusive. DADT was passed, hoped there would be moratorium on discharges--sadly not. I need your help. When I arrived at Congress, there was not inclusive language in legislation for GLBT. Can't tell you when, but it is a priority. I hope to do both this year.
Q) Who is blocking ENDA passage?
A) I prefer to to take a positive approach. Some opposition comes from business community who do not understand how it will be accomplished. We won DADT by 40 votes. Your impatience is justified--let's make it positive.
Q) Youth Promise Act has not been brought up in Congress. Education is top priority for Americans, but low priority in Congress. Why?
A) The Promise Act was introduced by Bobby Scott of VA. Nothing more important than this for kids. Bobby has many cosponsors, but not yet at 2/3's as I want. We don't know what can pass in the Senate. Repub Senators have held up job creation, and we don't know what the fate of this would be. Thinking about putting pieces of this into legislation that will pass, in order to get some of it in place. (Mentioned changes to student loan program to reduce cost to borrowers and the government.) The DREAM Act--there is a difference of opinion of how to proceed. Don't want to leave undocumented behind as immigration reform takes place. Others want it passed regardless of immigration reform, but Dem caucus doesn't feel that way. Arizona is a lesson to be learned. Must keep heat on for immigration reform.
Q) Recently you sent out a statement opposing cuts in SS. Are you opposed to raising retirement age?
A) we must be fiscally responsible, of course. But this is a different subject. Must always be fiscally responsible--Pay As You Go. Reducing deficit and keeping SS solvent are different discussions. What can we do to keep SS solvent? To change SS to balance budget is not the same thing. As we make SS more solvent, it will have positive impact on deficit, but we shouldn't look at reducing benefits or raising age of retirement just to balance budget. We must say that we support SS, oppose privatization. This is the 50th anniversary--let's renew our commitment to use it to it's purpose, and nothing else. (Mentions Francis Perkin's role as Labor Secretary in original SS--BTW, a really good book available about her. Will find later.) "Make us do it".
Q) Will Congress work through summer recess to work on jobs legislation? What will Congress do in addition to help?
A) Obama made promises at inauguration. House pass American Reinvestment and Recovery Act--saved 3.6M jobs--not enough, wanted more, but in the right direction. Passed Energy Bill, Health reform etc. All job creators. It's taken so long to get these done, so needed other bills in the meantime--HIRE Act, for instance. Happy about passing unemployment extensions bill--but Senate holding up. But, Senate struck summer jobs and other things. All of which were paid for. But that's the bare bones bill sent to House. Repubs wanted $34B to pay for parts of bill, but allowed $700B to keep tax breaks for rich. Thank God bill was made retroactive, but people were hurt. Think of what we could do if Repubs were not obstructing. Summary: we are making progress, but it's not enough yet. More jobs created to date under Obama than under 8 years of Bush. Repubs want to privatize SS. House has a big plan for creating manufacturing jobs in US. "Have to get it done".
Q) What about manufacturing jobs?
A) Must stop erosion of manufacturing base--it's a national security issue. 39 Repubs voted against bill on manufacturing and access to raw materials (rfall--what bill is this?). If you make product in China, you can't bid on government contracts, for instance. Need some reasonableness in how this is changed. Using tax code, and appropriations process, this is an all-out "make it in America" strategy--one bill after another. Must also hold China accountable for currency manipulation. This is an unfair advantage.
Q) Police brutality--the Fair Sentencing Act, the End Racial Profiling Act. When will Congress act?
A) We hope to take up Fair Sentencing Act this week, hopefully. This has already passed Senate--a surprise. Want to take it up under suspension--hope for bipartisan support. We are optimistic for this week and get a strong vote. Lessens disparity in treatment of powdered vs crack cocaine. Support racial profiling legislation.
Q) This week, Senate announced not climate legislation this year. Will we get bill to shift from oil to renewables this year?
A) My flagship issue was climate crisis and energy reform. Established committee for dealing with this. Senate cannot walk away from this--national security issue. Competitiveness issue. Whole world is doing green--are we to lead or be left behind? Have moral responsibility to preserve the Earth. Time is running out. Cannot walk away from this issue. $1B a day out of the country for oil. Don't know what Senate bill will look like, but want to go to conference with it. We welcome whatever Senate will pass that reduces dependence on foreign oil and go green. Sooner the better since threats continue. I hope they have a bill that is substantial enough for conference work. Must continue this fight.
Q) Fair Elections Now Act? Voting on it this year?
A) Need your help--been trying this for a while. Can't show weakness. Must make it clear to members that this is important to us. Fundamental to confidence in government. Urge you all to make your voice known on this. Visit to representative is important. "Make us do it"--FDR. We passed DISCLOSE Act--horrible decision by Supremes. Foreign companies have impact on our elections. DISCLOSE Act helps and is in Senate--Chris Holland taking the lead there. Tell Senate to pass it. Very important to have you in charge. Let's run with it.
Adding: with 2008 elections, leverage changed. Rachael Maddow (in intro taped message) was right. Financial reform legislation most important legislation ever. Health care reform--important--never happened in Repub administration. Reigning in big oil--required great courage. Imagine how important the elections are 100 days from tomorrow. We want to have no regrets in the outcome. Jobs, education--we must talk about these. The leverage has changed in favor or working families. When Repub chairman of House Election Committee: we will have exact agenda "as before"; "People will look with fondness on Bush admin". Pelosi--"We are not going back".
Q) First woman elected to be Speaker. Women remain a minority in Congress and around the country in politics. Your advice on how to succeed to both men and women?
A) Running for office is not for faint of heart--it's tough and about power. Advice--wrote book--"know your power". Have confidence in who you are--have a unique contribution to make. Nothing more important to process than increased participation of women. "I went from kitchen to Congress". Put high value on skills as a Mom. Some of you will come in after children are grown. Some, I hope, will think at a much younger age to get involved--need to see young women at seat of power. Needed role model. Whatever your choose your path to be, I believe women has a special intuitive sense (intellectual not emotional)--time management, want results, etc. Thanks for support of men in the audience. Dads now see what daughters can do. Story: first WH meeting as Speaker. I had no apprehension--used to visiting WH before. When door closed there, I realized this was unlike any meeting I or any woman had been to before. Sitting at table of power, not as appointee of President. President Bush started opening remarks--I felt I was getting crowded out of chair--sitting there on chair with me was Susan B. Anthony and many others who took a role in government. "At last we have a seat at the table" those women said to me. And then they were gone--I thought, then, "we want more"--minorities, etc. We have a diverse demographic. We succeed because we listen and achieve consensus. Because we are different, we don't hand down bill--we build it together. I see it in blogosphere, too.
"We're not going back!"