House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi defied President Obama Thursday and urged her members to vote against the $1.1 trillion spending package backed by the White House, but administration officials deny the dramatic episode has led to a rift between the two Democrats.
“She is as an effective a leader and more persuasive an advocate for the members of her caucus than I think probably any other leader in either party in recent history in Congress. That makes her not just a good partner; that makes her a really effective one. I think that’s why she and the president have had such a fruitful relationship,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters. “The strong working relationship and the effective working relationship we’ve had over the last six years will continue over the next two.”
Mr. Obama made calls to Democrats Thursday night and urged them to vote for the spending bill even though it contained numerous provisions — including those rolling back some campaign finance and Wall Street reform laws — vehemently opposed by Democrats. The president, too, opposes those and other portions of the bill but ultimately came out in favor of it in order to avoid a second government shutdown in 14 months.
“This is the essence of compromise,” Mr. Earnest said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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