Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi turns 70 today. Happy Birthday Madame Speaker! She has a lot to celebrate. After Scott Brown won the late Senator Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts some Democrats, including the president's closest advisors, suggested he abandon his push for one massive health care reform package for several smaller pieces of legislation that could potentially garner more bipartisan support. However, Speaker Pelosi continued to push for comprehensive reform and she got it.
After Senate Republicans succeeded in squeezing out several small changes to the reconciliation bill earlier this week it went back to the House where it easily passed last night. The legislation will now become law, effectively "fixing" the Senate bill President Obama signed into law Tuesday.
Whether you like the health care bill or not, the process of getting it passed revealed Speaker Pelosi's muscle power in the House. Although she's not the most popular person on Capitol Hill right now (the whole institution has major popularity issues) she's effective. This year whenever there's been a tough vote she's rallied her troops and pushed it through her house. The first female speaker of the House of Representatives will be remembered in history books.
For now the 70 year old grandmother has her eyes set on a particular unexpected birthday gift. I never would have guessed. Watch this video of her leaving her briefing with reporters yesterday to find out. I'll give you a hint, it's earned her the nickname "Pelosi the Pool Shark."