5. Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House (D-California)
Just behind Granholm in pushing for aid
Why she's here: Called for a lame-duck session of the 110th Congress in November the minute Obama said he'd consider loan guarantees for the Detroit Three. Assigned House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) to write the bill that was ready as Detroit execs landed in Washington for hearings.
Supports the car biz? Yes. Pelosi was unwavering in her support for the automakers as Republicans in the House and Senate said they'd oppose it, and when President Bush vowed to veto it. Didn't accept Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's argument that the TARP money was not for manufacturing industries.
The downside of Pelosi: She didn't officially take sides in the Waxman versus Dingell fight for House Energy and Commerce chairmanship, but clearly has supported Waxman and his assertion that Dingell has been too soft on Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.
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