House Majority Leader Open To Another Stimulus Bill

Despite the 9.5% unemployment rate announced by the Labor Department last week, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is not disillusioned with the stimulus plan. In fact, he may even support a second one.

“We need to be open to whether we need additional action,” said Hoyer during a pen-and-pad session with reporters Tuesday. Hoyer went on to say however, that it is still too soon to pursue a new plan, especially since the current stimulus plan has only been in place for 150 days.

While the Majority Leader conceded that more certainly needs to be done to reduce unemployment, the statistics are not particularly menacing when compared to the amount of jobs lost during the previous administration. Under the GOP’s economic stewardship, Hoyer explained, the amount of jobs lost was much more striking, especially during the closing days of the Bush administration.

Congress Reacts To Metro Crash

By Justin Duckham-Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) addressed Monday's fatal Washington Metrorail collision, saying that he and other representatives from Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. will meet with the appropriate officials to determine what can be done to prevent future accidents.

The Majority Leader was reluctant to attribute the crash to a lack of funding.

"I want to wait before jumping to a conclusion that this was a lack of money. We don't know yet whether this was a human error, computer error [or] equipment error," said Hoyer during a pen and pad session with reporters Tuesday. Wednesday, the Majority Leader announced that he and other legislators will attempt to secure an additional $3 billion for Metrorail.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) requested to have the accident brought to the attention of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. According to a statement released by Norton earlier this week, a series of hearings will be held after the 4th of July recess.

When Will The Government Get Out Of The Auto Industry And How Soon?

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Serive

The U.S. federal government is working to construct an orderly exit from its involvement with the automobile industry, while stabilizing the auto giants and saving jobs, said Ron Bloom, a senior advisor at the U.S. Treasury Department.

Bloom testified today before the Senate Banking Committee, along with Dr. Edward Montgomery, White House Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers.
 
Committee Chairman, U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) explained that the hearing was unique. He said it was the first time it would have the opportunity to hear directly from Obama administration officials in charge of supervising federal assistance to the auto industry. 

“Let us remember-Not too long ago, it seems an American could walk a city block without sensing the strength of an American automaker’s brand. Their labels adorned buses, railcars, and aircraft. They dominated the U.S. automobile market,” said Dodd. “Today, those images have faded. For the first time, the domestic market share for Ford, Chrysler and GM has slipped below 50 percent, going form 66 percent in 2001 to just 47 percent today.”

Bloom explained to the committee that the restructuring process that followed both GM and Chrysler filing for bankruptcy has required “deep and painful sacrifices from all stakeholders,” including workers, suppliers, dealers and the communities that rely on the auto industry. 

The Obama administration made it clear in February that it’s auto task force wanted to handle the auto restructuring process in a commercial manner. That is to ensure that all stakeholders are treated fairly and that the government’s involvement doesn’t change how much they receive, according to Bloom.

Earlier today, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen (D-Md.) held a press conference with colleagues and automobile dealers.

Hoyer said, “Two Sunday’s ago I was on a phone call with the White House who was helping us make our policy effective and I asked them, what money does it save the manufacturing General Motors or Chrysler if you shut down a dealership? Answer...zero.”

U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-Md.) was also present for the press conference and said the way things are being handled could be viewed as a “bailout for the big guys but a force out for the little guys.”

Hoyer: Democrats Back Pay-As-You-Go Rule Reinstatement

During a meeting with reporters, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) expressed his party’s commitment to reinstating a pay-as-you-go policy that would require Congress to offset spending by cutting an equal amount of funding elsewhere.

Hoyer described PAYGO as a vital tool for rebalancing the U.S. budget.

“The speaker and I met with President last week.  One of the points he made which I strongly agree is that pursuing fiscal responsibility and balance is one of our most important objectives,” said Hoyer.

Hoyer said that he plans on introducing the legislation that would reinstate PAYGO sometime next week.

PAYGO was effectuated in the 1990s, but ended in the early days of the George W. Bush administration. Hoyer blamed Republicans for ending the policy in order to afford tax cuts for the wealthy that occured during Bush’s two terms.

Hoyer Reiterates Party’s Health Care Plans

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) restated his party’s plan to revitalize healthcare, and said he hoped it would be with the support of the Republican minority.

“Republicans are essentially, in my opinion, out of touch with the American people. They began this year by opposing economic recovery legislation…Now we are moving to [a] critical item...health care reform,” said Hoyer during a pen and pad session with reporters Wednesday. “I'm hopeful that we can reach out and work with our Republican colleagues on both of these issues, because they are issues strongly supported by the American people and crying out for a definitive response."

Hoyer stated that lowering health care costs would be a major priority, a goal is shared by the Obama administration. The Majority Leader also offered assurances that individual Americans will still be allowed to choose their healthcare providers.

Hoyer also touched upon fiscal responsibility, describing it as a major concern for both Congress and the President.

"We need to obviously respond to the crisis to stabilize the economy, but that an equal priority is to assuring the fiscal well being of our country and stability of our country and responsibility of our country going forward,” said Hoyer