House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Wednesday evening snapped at a reporter questioning her tact with moderate Democrats holding up progressive trillion-dollar spending packages.
“It looks like the debt limit extension might not advance in the Senate. Why get mad at members, why twist the arms of moderates if this is not going to move anywhere?” a reporter questioned Pelosi, referring to moderate Democrats like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).
The House Speaker stared at the reporter, before angrily stating, “What are you talking about?!”
“We have a responsibility to uphold, to lift up the full faith and credit of the United States of America,” Pelosi told the reporter, according to The Western Journal. “That’s what we have to do. These members have all voted for this last week. So if they’re concerned about how it might be in an ad, it’s already in an ad. It’s already in an ad.”
As noted by The Hill, the House Budget Committee has already approved a blueprint for the larger social spending bill boasting a $3.5 trillion price tag.
“So let us give every confidence every step of the way that we will do that,” the leading Democrat continued. “We cannot predicate our actions in the House on what could happen in the Senate. We can when we’re coming to agreement on a bill. But in terms of this, I have no patience for people not voting for that.”
WATCH:
Pelosi snaps at a reporter questioning her strategy on the debt ceiling: “What are you talking about?!” pic.twitter.com/1vsgvDkGjS
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 29, 2021
Pelosi on Tuesday decided to pursue two separate tracks for a $1 trillion infrastructure bill and a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, according to National Review.
“As a result, the two pieces of legislation are no longer inextricably linked, fueling some progressive Democrats’ fears that the former could pass without the latter accompanying it,” the report explained. “For the reconciliation bill to pass in its current form, the Democrats backing it must secure a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate, an increasingly unlikely scenario given that Manchin chose to double-down against it. Another obstacle Democrats face is moderate Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who has expressed similar qualms with the reconciliation bill as Manchin and will likely oppose it.”
Sen. Manchin on Wednesday released a lengthy statement reiterating his opposition to the Democrats’ ever-expanding government programs.
“While I am hopeful that common ground can be found that would result in another historic investment in our nation, I cannot – and will not – support trillions in spending or an all or nothing approach that ignores the brutal fiscal reality our nation faces,” the statement said, in part.
“We can’t even pay for the essential social programs, like Social Security and Medicare,” Manchin added.
Sinema on Wednesday refused to engage in the pushback against her moderate position, too. For example, when asked by the media about “frustrated” progressive Democrats wondering “where” she is, Sinema told the reporter, “I’m in the Senate.”
Q: What do you say to progressives who are frustrated they don’t know where you are?
SINEMA: “I’m in the Senate.”
Q: There are progressives in the Senate that are also frustrated they don’t know where your are either.
SINEMA: “I’m clearly right in front of the elevator.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 29, 2021