From Roll Call: “House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), angry that some of her own betrayed the party on a key trade vote, called a last-minute, Members-only meeting tonight to review the early-morning balloting and the reasoning behind defectors’ votes.
“Pelosi called for the special session of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee at a private whip meeting this morning, during which she said she ‘had a sleepless night’ over the Central American Free Trade Agreement vote that narrowly passed early in the morning. Sources in the room said Pelosi was furious at the outcome and the votes of some of the 15 Democrats – notably some in safe districts – who joined the Republicans to pass the bill.
“‘I’ve never seen her like that,’ described one Democratic aide who attended the meeting.
“While sources insisted Pelosi has not called for any retribution in the Democratic Caucus, she left open the likelihood that defectors’ committee assignments would be reviewed at tonight’s meeting of the Steering Committee, which helps determine Members’ placement on panels.”