Pelosi Remarks at Press Availability on Bipartisan Budget Agreement

Contact: Drew Hammill/Evangeline George, 202-226-7616

Washington D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at a press availability with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid on the bipartisan budget agreement. Below are the Leader's remarks followed by the question and answer session:

Leader Pelosi's Opening Remarks:

"Good afternoon, everyone. It really is a pleasure to see each and every one of you this evening, and I'm honored to welcome the Democratic Leader of the Senate, Senator Harry Reid, back to the House side. He began his service in Congress here. We take great pride in that.

"Today, we had a major victory on the Floor of the House. It was a victory for bipartisanship, it was a victory for working families in our country, it was a victory enables us to go forward to do our job for the American people. I'm very pleased, that as one part of what happened today, that we honored the full faith and credit of the United States of America – and in a very strong number. I'm very pleased that the agreement that came forth in the budget agreement honored the principle of 50-50 of going forward – investments in our national security, which we need, and investments in our domestic security that we need. We have removed the stranglehold of sequestration from our national security and from our economic growth. I'm very pleased, also, that the legislation included – to stop a 20 percent cut in the benefits for people with disabilities in the Social Security Program. We're very pleased to have worked with Senator Reid on these issues, as well as on stopping a sharp increase in Medicare Part B payments for our seniors. The security of our country, the growth of our economy, the financial stability of our seniors and people with disabilities – for the full faith and credit of the United States of America, we're very proud.

"And I'm especially proud because we were able to work together – House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans – but the unity on the Democratic side in the House, demonstrated by 100 percent of the Democrats voting for the agreement. It didn't mean that they approved of every single aspect of it. It is a compromise. But, it did say that we had unity. We demonstrated that unity when bills came to the Floor that we did not think were good for working families in our country and that the President said he would veto – again and again and again, House Democrats supported the President's veto.

"In the Senate, Senator Reid, using the rules of the Senate, was able to stop some of this destructive legislation, as well. So, it was really exhilarating to work with him. He's a master, he's a virtuoso legislator, and to follow his lead in these discussions and make known some of the concerns of our House Members.

"So, again, it was about working together – House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans – for the good of the American people. And, as always, it is my honor to work with the distinguished Democratic Leader of the Senate, Harry Reid."

Leader Pelosi's Closing Remarks:

"I'd like to add to – I'd like to join, actually, Democratic Leader Reid in commending the President. He was very much a part of the deliberations. And I want to salute Speaker Boehner, as well. Again, this is a compromise. And it is something that we recognize as such, and feel that the big vote that we got here today recognizes that this is a sustainable victory. Although, sadly, we had two-thirds of the Republicans voting ‘no.'

But who was voting ‘yes' were just pages and pages: AARP, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Federation of American Hospitals, American College of Physicians – the list goes on and on, and growing, of support [from] organizations who support what happened here today. And not only do they support the specifics of the legislation – they support the bipartisanship, the reaching across the aisle that was done to achieve this. With that, does anyone have any questions?"

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Q: Leader Pelosi, Paul Ryan has told his conference that he's going to abide by the so-called "Hastert Rule," ensuring that a majority of the majority supports any bill that he would bring to the floor. What impact do you think this would have if he continues to abide by that "Hastert Rule?"

Leader Pelosi. Well first of all there never was a ‘Hastert Rule.' What is a rule? An approach that you take? The approach that they would take would never have allowed this important budget bill to come to the floor. If that were the rule, the full faith and credit of the United States would be dishonored. We would be in default. So I hope that this Speaker will not be constrained by that so-called rule, which as I say, was never a rule. We would never have been able to do many things that we have accomplished here. In fact, lifting the full faith and credit – the last time, 199 Republicans voted ‘No.' Twenty-eight voted ‘Yes.' So, the number of ‘Yeses' is growing, but nonetheless, still not a majority of their Caucus.

So I would hope that his Members would allow him to be Speaker. And if the constraint that they place on him is that they want to vote for something that they support, let them do that. But also let the House work its will, and a majority of the House pass legislation to go onto the Senate, or if it's coming from the Senate, to go on to the White House. This constraint that you've described is very damaging to America's working families, because it means that a minority of the minority of the minority can rule the House. It will only take a half the majority – half the Republicans here – to say that something can't go forward. That's a little more than 25 percent of the House. That shouldn't be what rules here.

Leader Reid. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I know my staff is quivering in their boots. But I think that they should come up with a new name. I'm not sure the Hastert rule is good to have on anything.

Leader Pelosi. Well, any other questions?

Q: Madam Leader – I just have to get this out – what is your very fondest memory of John Boehner? You've worked with him for many, many years.

Leader Pelosi. Well, yes I have and I have great admiration for John Boehner. And, as I will say on the floor tomorrow as I hand the gavel to the next Speaker that he was always loyal to his Caucus. I respected that loyalty. Isn't that right, Harry? He always spoke for them. So for them to exact this penalty on him that he has to give up the gavel if he doesn't want to shut down government seems very unfair.

Many fond memories. The joy he had – a recent one – the joy he had in the birth of Alistair, his grandson, but of course everything is eclipsed by the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis. It has meant a lot to him. He made it a beautiful and wonderful visit. We all like to think we were a part of that planning, that beauty and that meaning but the fact is that John Boehner took special responsibility and deserves a great deal of credit for the success of the visit.

So, again, many interesting moments. We hardly ever agreed on many things but we did know that we had to compromise. We did agree on our respect of the institution in which we serve, the House of Representatives. We both knew the power of the speakership and we both love our country. So we had some fundamentals in common. The issues divided up and as I say, he was always loyal to the priorities of his Caucus and it's sad to see that respect and loyalty was not reciprocated.

Q: Did you ever commiserate with one another in private – and I know you want to talk about content, I wish you would. But did you ever commiserate about the trials of the speakership or leadership, or ‘Man, what a day,' or ‘Man, these people.' Did you guys ever connect on that stuff?

Leader Pelosi. No. No, we didn't because I don't have any complaints about anything that we do around here. We did know that sometimes it's hard – passing a bill is a challenge. It's not automatic and especially because what you want to do is build consensus in your Caucus. But no, I think we all relished the opportunity that we had, took pleasure in the relationship we had with our members and responsibility for the opportunities that were there for the American people. But no – and that's why I say: he never expressed any view except that he was proud to represent the Caucus, and he represented their point of view. And so the Speaker cannot enable a few people to drive the engine of legislation in the Congress. So, I would say to the Republican majority, let the Speaker be Speaker. Let [Congressman Paul] Ryan be Speaker and let his role as Speaker of the House be how he is measured as a Speaker and not the lowest common denominator in the Republican Caucus. Mr. Leader.

Leader Reid. I hope John Boehner tells his children and grandchildren that his legacy is one of absolute honesty. He never ever misled me. He always told me what he was going to do, most of which I didn't like, but he never ever misled me. We had a wonderful relationship. We did a lot of things person to person. And I repeat: his legacy as far as I'm concerned is total honesty.

Leader Pelosi. Thank you all very much. Have a good evening.

Q: Leader Pelosi, can you talk at all about your working relationship with Paul Ryan now that he's been nominated?

Leader Pelosi. Let me get to that when he is Speaker, okay?

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