The talk of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s pending retirement has grown loud in recent months.
While President Joe Biden spent the weekend on a victory tour over Congress’ passage of his $1.2 trillion infrastructure package after fractious fellow Democrats resolved a months-long standoff in their ranks to seal the deal.
“Finally, infrastructure week,” a beaming Biden told reporters. “I’m so happy to say that: infrastructure week.”
Pelosi had different plans. According to reports, the House Speaker was seen on a plane heading to south Florida… possibly shopping around for retirement homes.
Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, R-G.A., said Pelosi was on her plane —
Nancy Pelosi went house hunting last week in south Florida.
She was actually on my plane.
She wants to retire in Florida to enjoy low taxes, mask free hair salons, and Republican freedom policies, while literally destroying all these good things for the American people.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) November 6, 2021
Why retire with her multimillions in tax-heavy California, after all, when Republican-run Florida offers a much cheaper alternative?
Pelosi’s critics quickly pounced on the news —
Hey @SpeakerPelosi, if Florida is so horrible why did several friends of mine see you house hunting, maskless, in the Hobe Sound area last week?
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) November 6, 2021
Retirement house hunting was not the only controversy to haunt Pelosi from last week.
Video emerged on social media that caught the eye of critics, who speculated that the 87-year-old was either “glitching” or suffering a minor stroke when trying to explain Biden’s spending plans.
You can see for yourself here —
Stroke or glitch? You decide. pic.twitter.com/m2a20pVOWs
— 🍊💥Atomic💥BIonde💥🍊 (@Ablonde20211) November 5, 2021
Guided by Pelosi, the House passed Biden’s massive infrastructure bill 228-206 late Friday, prompting prolonged cheers from the relieved Democratic side of the chamber.
Thirteen Republicans crossed the aisle and supported the legislation while six of Democrats’ farthest left members, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., defied Pelosi and voted against it.
Democrats are still battling over a much larger, 10-year, $1.85 trillion spending measure that seeks to fundamentally change the role of the U.S. government in citizens’ lives. The massive spending bill was sidetracked after moderates demanded a cost estimate on the measure from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The postponement dashed hopes that Friday would produce a double-barreled win for Biden with passage of both bills.