March 22, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the United States House of Representatives says that Democrats are voting on the historic heath care overhaul as a gesture for American people. But this seems to have not gone down well with the protesters of the health care bill. After the final caucus meeting before the historic vote when she appeared before protesters, they welcomed her by chanting her name and shouting to ‘kill the bill’.

Pelosi who is the first female speaker of the house led her caucus across the street to the Capitol with a gavel in one hand and the other on the arm of Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who had been harassed by protesters on Saturday. Even as they headed into the heated atmosphere of the House chamber, Democrats were scrambling to line up the last of 216 votes required to pass the bill. Some of the holdouts remained concerned that the legislation would permit federal money to be use for elective abortions.

Pelosi who is the first Californian as well as first Italian-American to hold the post of speaker of the house is also second in line of presidential succession following vice president Joe Biden has given her strong support for the health care bill and hopes it gets the required number of votes in the house.