Dispatches From The Hill: Pelosi's Family and Friends
As the ever-gracious hostess, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has invited a crowd of notables to her press-gallery section this evening for what likely will be a climactic speech. And her press staff kindly provided the names of those 15 guests. Call it a case of family, lobbyist friends, and Obama-ites.
With the approach of their likely euphoric moment of completing congressional action on their core health care bill -- and promises of prompt Senate action on the clean-up measure -- their celebration will begin. But, of course, that will require a few more speeches, including by the often windy Speaker.
On the family side, the gallery guests will include Pelosi's husband Paul -- who has circulated in Capitol hallways in his typically quiet demeanor during much of this weekend -- daughters Nancy Corinne Prowda and Alexandra Pelosi, and Alexandra's husband Michiel Vos.
Interest groups will be represented by Gordon Whitman, of the faith-based PICO national network; Richard Kirsch, national campaign manager for Health Care for America Now; Robert Hall, assistant director of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Rich Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO; Willarda Edwards, president of the National Medical Association; and Ari Matusiak, President of the Young Invincibles Want Change group. All have participated actively in the health-care debate.
Representing the Obama Administration will be Christina Romer and Mark Duggan of the Council of Economic Advisors; Zeke Emanuel, Senior Advisor for Health Policy at the Office of Management and Budget, and brother of WH chief of staff Rahm Emanuel; Jason Furman, National Economic Council Advisor; and Nancy Ann DeParle, Pres. Obama's chief adviser on health reform.
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