Nancy Pelosi was happy to block for President Obama on the stimulus, but she won’t keep at it forever, reports Politico. Pelosi’s responsibilities are to her liberal district and caucus; on the pace of repealing tax cuts, withdrawal from Iraq, and other issues, Pelosi doesn’t plan on rolling over. “Unlike recent Republican speakers, she’s not going to be a rubber stamp for the president,” says a Democratic staffer.
Pelosi is concerned that Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will gang up on her to ram through more moderate legislation. “We can't let the Senate always push us around by shouting, 'We need 60!’” says an aide. And despite her general support for his agenda, Pelosi plans to defend her turf, sticking up for some member earmarks against Obama’s criticism.
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