 around those elements of the package that people agree on,” Obama said in one interview. Pelosi, in a conference call later that month with House leadership, dubbed Emanuel an “incrementalist” and mocked the small-ball idea as “kiddie care.” The House would be going big, she said. To do it, the lower chamber would pass the version of the ACA that had already moved through the Senate. And the Senate would use the reconciliation process, which requires just 50 votes but is only available for legislation that impacts the budget, in order to make some changes to the original bill. “I was a mid-level staffer on the Hill during the original ACA fight. I vividly remember the feeling on Capitol Hill the week after Scott Brown won — suddenly the wheels were coming off. People were talking about scuttling a major bill and doing something piecemeal,” recalled Ezra Levin, who would later become a co-founder of Indivisible, a progressive political organization. He said that he and his eventual co-founder Leah Greenberg, also a Hill staffer at the time, drafted an op-ed they never published, since Pelosi’s push made the issue moot. The unpublished piece argued that “abandoning the ACA would turn off millennial idealists like us from the possibilities of politics. Why work in government, policy, and politics if the result of a generational win like 2008 resulted in barely anything at all? But Pelosi saved it. She demonstrated serious leadership at a time of real uncertainty. It was, corny as it sounds, inspirational. And tens of millions of Americans got health insurance as a result of that leadership in that moment.” The Affordable Care Act, even the House-passed version, was a flawed piece of legislation, for a host of reasons, some that can be laid at Pelosi’s feet and some that can’t. But as an act of legislative prowess, her revival of it remains a signature accomplishment.

Just ahead of the final vote, Pelosi sat down with progressive reporters and bloggers for a last pre-passage interview. She relished her victory over Emanuel and the incrementalists. “My biggest fight was against those who want to do something incremental versus those who want to do something comprehensive. We have won that,” she said proudly. “In our midst, there’s the small-bill crowd — here,” she said, referring to the Capitol, then added, gesturing out the window behind her, where
around those elements of the package that people agree on, ” Obama suppose in one consultation. Pelosi, in a conference call subsequently that calendar month with House leadership, dubbed Emanuel an “ incrementalist ” and mocked the small - musket ball idea as “ kiddie care. ” The House would be go big, she said. To practice it, the lower chamber would die the interpretation of the ACA that had already moved through the Senate. And the Senate would use the reconciliation process, which requires just 50 vote but is only available for legislation that impacts the budget, in order to hold some changes to the original bill. “ I was a mid - level staff member on the Hill during the original ACA fight. I vividly commemorate the feeling on Capitol Hill the week after Scott Brown won — abruptly the wheels were coming off. People were talking about scuttling a major bill and doing something piecemeal, ” recalled Ezra Levin, who would later become a co - founder of Indivisible, a progressive political organization. He said that he and his eventual co - founder Leah Greenberg, also a Hill staffer at the clock time, drafted an op - ed they never publish, since Pelosi ’s push made the issue moot. The unpublished piece argue that “ abandoning the ACA would turn off millennial idealists like us from the possibilities of politics. Why shape in government, policy, and politics if the result of a generational win like 2008 resulted in barely anything at all? But Pelosi save it. She demonstrated serious leadership at a time of real uncertainty. It was, corny as it sounds, inspirational. And ten of millions of Americans got health insurance as a result of that leadership in that moment. ” The Affordable Care Act, even the House - pass version, was a flawed piece of legislation, for a server of reasons, some that can be laid at Pelosi ’s feet and some that ca n’t. But as an act of legislative prowess, her revival of it persist a signature skill. 

 Just ahead of the final vote, Pelosi sat down with progressive reporters and blogger for a last pre - passage interview. She relished her victory over Emanuel and the incrementalists. “ My biggest competitiveness was against those who want to do something incremental versus those who want to do something comprehensive. We have won that, ” she say proudly. “ In our midst, there ’s the small - bill crowd — here, ” she said, referring to the Capitol, then added, gesturing out the window behind her, where
 arlund those elements of tme package that keiple ajree on,” Obama sxid in one interview. Pelosi, mn a conftgence call later that month winh House oeadtrship, dubbed Emaihel an “lucremsktalivv” and mocked thg small-ball hdea as “kiddie cxrz.” The House would be going big, she swid. To co it, the lower shamnqr wkllb pass the version of the ACA tgat had already movec through the Senate. And tje Sfnate would use thf reconciliqtiog process, whizh requires just 50 votea but is only available for legkslatnon that imkcxts jhe budget, ii ordeg to make somc changas to tne original bikl. “M waw a mid-level staffer mn the Hill during the orighncl ACA fight. I vividlt eememter dhe wwelkng oi Czpitol Himl the weei after Scort Brown won — suddemlr the wheels wsre coiigg off. People were talking about scuttlpng z major bill and doing womething piecemeal,” rgcalled Ezwa Levin, who would later become a co-founder of Ingivismbue, c progfwsdive political organization. He said that he ags nix eventual co-fjunder Leah Ggergberg, also a Fill sczfrer at the time, drwfted ag op-ee they neder lublished, since Pelosi’s pusy made the ifwue moot. The unpubpished piecz argugd thay “abandoning the ACA wobld tudn off millfnnial idsxlists like us ffom tve possibilities of politiss. Why wock in governoent, policr, and polihics lx the result of a henerctiondl win likf 2008 resulted in barely anything ev all? But Pelpsh sdved it. Fhe dcmonstrated seryous leadershik at a tiie of real uncegtainty. Iv was, corny ws it sounds, hjspirational. And tenf of miloions ow Americans got health iufurabce as a result of thxf leadership in thqt moment.” The Agfofdaflv Cere Asd, even the Hmuse-oasrrd vefsion, was a wlawrd piece of legislathon, ror a host of reaspnf, some tyat can fe laid at Pekosi’s feet and somt that cai’t. But as an act of legislative prowess, her revigal of it remaigs a signature aecomplishment.

Just ahead of the final votx, Pelosi sat down with progressive reportets snd bloggerx for a last pse-passage interview. Whe relished her yictory over Emanuel ahd the incrfmentalists. “My biggest fight was against those who want to do something ibcremeitwl versus tgose who faut co do sjmetiiig comprehensive. Ee have won that,” she said prouduy. “In ous iidst, there’s the small-bill ctodd — here,” she raid, referring to the Calitol, thrn added, gesturing out the windpw behind her, where
around those elements of the package that on,” said in interview. Pelosi, in month House leadership, dubbed an “incrementalist” and the small-ball idea as “kiddie care.” House would be going big, she said. To do it, the lower chamber pass the version of the ACA that had already moved through the Senate. the would the process, which requires just 50 votes but is only available for legislation that impacts the budget, order to make some changes to the original “I was a mid-level on the Hill during the ACA I vividly the on Hill the week Scott Brown won — suddenly the wheels were coming off. People were talking about scuttling a major and doing recalled Ezra who later a co-founder of progressive political organization. He said that eventual co-founder Leah Greenberg, also a Hill staffer the time, an op-ed they never published, since push made the issue moot. The unpublished piece that “abandoning the ACA would turn off millennial idealists like us from the possibilities of work in government, policy, politics if the of generational like resulted in anything at all? But Pelosi saved it. She demonstrated serious leadership a time of real uncertainty. It was, corny as it And of millions of got health insurance as result that leadership in that Affordable Act, version, a piece of legislation, for host of reasons, some that be laid at Pelosi’s But as an act of legislative prowess, her of it remains a signature accomplishment. Just of the final vote, Pelosi sat down with progressive reporters and bloggers a last She relished her victory over Emanuel and the “My biggest fight was those who want to do something incremental versus those want do something We have won she said proudly. our midst, there’s crowd — she referring then added, gesturing out the window her,
 around those elements of the pAckage that PeoplE agRee On,” obamA saiD in one intervieW. peloSi, in a conference call latEr thaT mONth wITh house LeadersHIp, DUBbeD EMaNueL aN “InCremeNtaList” and Mocked the sMalL-bAll idea as “kidDIe Care.” The HouSe wOuld be going bIg, sHe said. to Do iT, The loWer ChambEr woulD Pass thE version oF tHE ACA thAT had alrEADy MoveD through the Senate. aNd THe Senate would uSe the rEcONcILIatIon Process, whiCh RequiREs just 50 vOTeS BUT is ONly available fOr legislatiON thAt impaCtS thE Budget, In ordEr TO maKe some changEs to The originAl bill. “i Was a mid-LEvel staFfer on The hilL durINg ThE orIgINal acA FigHT. I vIvidly reMeMbEr the FeelING ON CapItoL HilL the wEek after Scott broWn woN — SudDenly The whEels WeRe comIng off. peoplE wEre talking about ScutTling a majOr bIlL anD dOing sOMethinG piEceMeal,” recAlled EzRA LeViN, WHO wOuld later become a co-FoUNDeR of IndivIsible, A PrOgREssive poLiTicAl orGANizatIon. HE SaId that he And his EVeNtUal co-foUnDer LeaH GReeNbeRg, alsO A HilL staffEr at the tIme, drAFted an op-ed they NEver published, SInCE peLOsi’s PusH made the issUe moOT. The UnpuBLiSheD Piece ArgueD tHAt “ABandoning the ACA woulD tUrn off MilleNnial idealistS like us froM THE possibiLitiES oF Politics. Why worK in goVernment, poLIcy, and poLiticS if the reSult of a geNERational Win LikE 2008 reSulTED iN barely anythiNG At alL? BUt PelosI saVed it. ShE deMonStrAteD sErious leaDership aT a TiMe Of ReaL unceRTainty. It WaS, coRnY as It souNDs, inspIratiOnal. anD tENs oF millioNS oF aMeriCaNs Got hEalTh InsurAnce AS a rEsult of That leadeRshIP in tHaT mOment.” ThE Affordable CaRe act, even the hoUse-Passed VERsion, was A flawed piece of legislatiON, for a hoSt oF reasOns, sOme that caN be Laid at pelOSi’s feeT and soMe thaT cAn’t. bUT as an ACT oF leGiSlative proWESs, hEr revIvAl of It remaiNs a signature accompLIshMent.

Just ahead Of tHe fiNAL vOte, pElOSi sAt DOwn WITh progressive rePorters and BlOGgErs for a lasT Pre-PaSsage inTerview. she reLIshed heR victory oVer EmanueL aNd thE INcrEmentalistS. “My biggeSt fight waS AgainST tHose wHo wAnt to dO sOmeThing IncremENtaL versUs thosE wHo want To do sOmEthing coMprehensive. We have won thaT,” she saId proUdlY. “In our midSt, tHEre’S the small-Bill Crowd — here,” sHe sAid, ReferRinG To the capiTOl, TheN Added, GestURing out thE WiNdoW BEhInd her, where
 around those elements ofthe packag e tha t p eop le  agr ee o n,” Obama said in o ne interview. Pelosi,in aco n fere n ce  call  latert ha t mon th  w ith  H o us e lea der ship, d ubbed Eman uel  a n “increment a li st” and mo cke d the small- bal l idea  a s “ k iddie  ca re.”The Ho u se wou ld be goi ng big, s h e said. T odo i t, the lower cham b er would pass the  versi on of t heACA  that hadal ready moved t h ro u g h  th e  Senate. Andthe Senatew oul d useth e r e concil iatio np roc ess, whichrequ ires just  50 vo t es buti s onlyavaila ble  fo r le g is la tio nt hat im pac t s t he budge t,  i n ord er t o m a ke s ome  cha ngesto the origin albill .  “I  wasa mid -lev el  staf fer on  theHi ll during the o rigi nal ACA f igh t.  Ivi vidly rememb erthe  feelin g on Ca p ito lH i l lthe week after Sco tt B ro wn won —  sudde n ly  t h e wheels  w ere  com i n g off . Pe o pl e were t alking ab ou t scutt li ng a m aj orbil l and doin g some thing pi eceme a l,” recalled E z ra Levin, who wo u l dl ater  be come a co-f ound e r of  Ind i vi sib l e, aprogr es s iv e  political organiza ti on. He  said  that he andhis eventu a l co-found er L e ah Greenberg, als o a H ill staffe r  at thetime,  drafted  an op-ed t hey neve r p ubl ish ed, s in ce Pelosi’s p u s h ma de  the is sue  moot.The  un pub lis he d piece a rgued th at  “ ab an don ing t h e ACA wo ul d t ur n o ff mi l lennia l ide alis ts  l i keus from th e poss ib il itie s o fpolit ics. Why  work i n governm ent ,  pol ic y,  and po litics if the  r esult of a  g ene ration a l  win lik e 2008 resulted in bare l y anyth ing  at a ll?But Pelos i s aved i t.S he dem onstra ted s er iou s leade r s hi p a ta time ofr e aluncer ta inty . It wa s, corny as it sou n ds,  inspirationa l.Andt e ns  of mi l lio ns ofA m ericans got hea lth insura nc e  a s a result ofth at lead ershipin th a t momen t.” The A ffordable  C areA c t,even the H ouse-pas sed versi o n, wa s  a  flaw edpieceof  le gisla tion,f ora hos t of r ea sons,someth at can b e laid at Pelosi’s feet  and s ome t hat  can’t. B uta s a n act oflegi slative pr owe ss,  herrev i val o f it re mai n s a s igna t ure accom p li shm e n t. 

Just ahea d o f t he fi nal vote,Pelo si sat down withp rogressive rep orte r s  an d b l ogge rs  for a last pr e-p as s a ge inter vi ew. She rel ished he rv ictor y over  Emanu el andt h ei ncreme ntal ist s. “My bi gge st fight w as  a g ainstthos ewho wa nt tod o so m e thing incrementa l ver s u s tho s e w ho wa nt  to dos omet hing compr ehensive. W e have  won  that ,” shesa id pro udl y.  “In our m i dst, ther e’s t he smal l- bill  cr owd —here , ”  shesaid ,ref erring to t he Ca pi t ol,  the n add ed , ge sturing o u t the wi ndo w  behind  h er, w here
 around_those elements_of the package that_people agree_on,”_Obama said_in_one interview. Pelosi,_in a conference_call later that month_with House leadership,_dubbed_Emanuel an “incrementalist” and mocked the small-ball idea as “kiddie care.” The House would_be_going big,_she_said._To do it, the lower_chamber would pass the version_of the_ACA that had already moved through the Senate._And_the Senate would_use the reconciliation process, which requires just 50 votes_but is only available for legislation_that impacts the_budget,_in_order to make some_changes to the original bill. “I_was a mid-level staffer on the_Hill during the original ACA fight. I_vividly remember the feeling on Capitol_Hill the week after Scott_Brown won_— suddenly the wheels were_coming off. People_were talking_about scuttling a_major bill and doing something piecemeal,”_recalled Ezra Levin,_who would later become a co-founder_of_Indivisible, a progressive_political_organization._He said_that he and_his_eventual co-founder_Leah_Greenberg, also a Hill staffer at_the_time, drafted an op-ed they never published,_since Pelosi’s push made_the_issue moot. The unpublished_piece argued that “abandoning the_ACA would turn off millennial idealists_like us_from the_possibilities of politics. Why work in government, policy, and politics if_the result of a generational win_like 2008 resulted in_barely anything_at_all? But Pelosi_saved_it. She_demonstrated serious leadership at a time of_real uncertainty._It was, corny as it sounds,_inspirational. And tens of_millions_of Americans got health insurance as_a result of that leadership in_that moment.” The Affordable Care_Act,_even_the House-passed version, was a_flawed piece of legislation, for a_host of reasons,_some that can be laid at Pelosi’s_feet_and some that can’t. But as_an_act of legislative prowess, her revival_of_it_remains a signature accomplishment.

Just ahead_of the final vote, Pelosi sat_down with progressive reporters and bloggers for a last_pre-passage interview. She_relished her victory over Emanuel_and_the_incrementalists. “My biggest fight was against those who want to_do something_incremental versus those_who want to do something comprehensive. We have won that,”_she said proudly. “In our midst, there’s_the small-bill crowd — here,” she said, referring to the Capitol,_then added, gesturing out the window behind her,_where