GOP Underminding Health Reform At All Costs, Says Hoyer

By Laurel Brishel Prichard
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters Tuesday that Americans are more concerned with whether or not health reform passes than the means by which it is passed.

“We talk a lot about process in this town,” said Hoyer. “'So what?' says the American public. What they are interested in is what resulted. 'What did you do for me and my family to make my life more secure and greater quality?'”

Despite bipartisan efforts to prevent the legislation from passing, Hoyer said he's hopeful the bill will persevere. The Majority Leader disputed a popular claim that reform will deal a large blow to seniors on Medicare.

“The Republicans have been doing everything in their power to undermine the health care legislation,” he said.

According to Hoyer, Republicans are obstructing reform regardless of what is in the bill. “They continue to scare the public, some of which has worked, by saying this is a government takeover of health care. That is absolutely untrue.”

While a vote on the bill has not yet been announced, Hoyer assured that one will take place very soon.

Massa's Allegations "Absolutely Untrue," Says Hoyer

By Laurel Brishel Prichard University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said Tuesday that statements made by former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) claiming that he was forced out of office in order to pass health care reform legislation were "absolutely untrue."

“[It is] absolutely untrue ... that there was any relationship between actions and the health care bill. Period," Hoyer said during his weekly pen and pad session with reporters.

Massa, who resigned amid allegations that he had made inappropriate, sexual remarks to a staffer, has accused Hoyer of falsely stating that the Majority Leader had contacted Massa prior to the revelation of the scandal.

Hoyer denied making the claim, and instead stressed that each Congressman's staffs were in contact.

“I never talked to Mr. Massa,” said Hoyer. “My staff talked to his staff.”

Hoyer's staff reportedly urged Massa’s staff to go to the Ethics Committee within 48 hours or Hoyer’s office would take action themselves.

Senate Decision-Making Policies Should Be Reconsidered In Light Of Bunning Filibuster, Says Hoyer

By Antonia Aguilar-University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) stated Tuesday that the Senate should reconsider its policies governing decision-making policies amid the controversy surrounding Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), who has been attempting to block passage of a short term unemployment benefits program in the Senate for the past several days.

"I'm certainly hopeful that the Senate will at some point come to grips with the fact that one person ... is holding up the entire United States Senate from acting on that which members on both side of the aisle agree on," Hoyer said. "The Senate has got to come to a place where the Senate has the ability to function."

Hoyer also noted that he remains hopeful that healthcare reform will move forward and will overcome attempts by Republicans to halt its progress.

"There is opportunity to improve the legislation, not scrap it after so much work has been done on it," said Hoyer. "Starting over is a euphemism for not doing it."

Hoyer said in order for undecided House Members to agree to pass the Senate's bill, they need assurance that the bill will work.

House Will Strip Antitrust Protection For Health Insurance Companies, Says Pelosi

By Chingyu Wang - Talk Radio News Service

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that she and other Democrats in the House will try to pass the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act tomorrow. The bill would remove antitrust protections for the major health insurance companies.

"This bill is about restoring competition, fairness, and choice to the health insurance industry. After 65 years, it is now time for the unfair advantage insurance companies have held over American families and small businesses to end," said Pelosi. "We have set a better legislation. It's about affordability for the middle class, it's about accessibility of many more people to health care, and affordability is central to that."

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he is optimistic about the bill's chances of passing when it is brought to the House floor tomorrow.

"I'm confident it'll pass, and I surely hope that it passes with a significant bipartisan vote," said Hoyer.

Former insurance executive Wendell Potter viewed the legislation as a major step toward ending what he described as the profit domination of seven major companies in the health insurance field.

"In my view it's a beginning comprehensive reform that will benefit average Americans, working individuals and families more than the big insurance companies," said Potter.

House Majority Leader Always Hopeful For Bipartisan Agreement

By Laurel Brishel Prichard University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), said Tuesday that the meeting he attended earlier that morning with President Barack Obama and other Congressional leaders left him feeling hopeful that the U.S. would soon be moving forward with a bipartisan jobs bill, a commission to help manage the deficit and a solution to the ever-lasting issue of health care reform.

“There was general agreement that getting lending moving to small businesses was absolutely essential if we are going to allow them to grow and grow jobs,” said Hoyer during a briefing with reporters.

Hoyer said that Obama has high expectations that both House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will appoint members to the proposed fiscal commission that would represent their party's views fairly. The commission would be structured in a way that appointees will have to receive bipartisan approval.

“This is going to be very, very tough,” noted Hoyer.

Although health care reform appears to be at a stand still, Hoyer explained that there was a “tip of the hat to working together" from both parties.

Later this month, Obama will be holding a televised health care summit. Leaders from both parties have been invited to attend.

Hoyer also expressed his sorrow over the passing of Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.), who died Monday, and praised the Pennsylvanian Democrat for his service to the country.