Pelosi Nixes Jackson Resolution

It was a touching moment when Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) presented House Resolution 600—dedicated to "honoring an American legend and musical icon"—at Michael Jackson’s memorial. The crowd went wild. Congress, however, did not. The resolution has exactly one sponsor, Rep. Diane Watson (D-LA.), with Jackson's questionable personal life scaring off politicians from directly associating themselves with the fallen star. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has rejected Resolution 600 altogether: “Michael Jackson was a great, great performer, and lots of sadness there for many reasons,” she said at a new conference. “What I have said to my colleagues over the years, and certainly as leader and as speaker, is that there’s an opportunity on the floor of the House to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish. I don’t think it’s necessary for us to have a resolution.” Despite Pelosi’s statement, Jackson Lee has vowed to fight for the resolution.