Hoyer Hints That Congress May Not Delay August Recess To Achieve Health Care Reform

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) suggested that if Congress misses the August deadline put forward by the Obama administration for a completed health care reform bill, postponing Congress’ August recess may not be the most effective step.

“I don’t think it’s a question of staying another week, it’s a question of seeing whether or not we can get to consensus,” Hoyer said during a pen and pad session with reporters Tuesday.

“I don’t think staying in session is... necessary to continue to work on getting consensus,’ Hoyer added.

Following the August recess, Congress will not be back in session until early September.

Late Night Health Care Discussions Bring Historic Progress, Says Pelosi

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Two more House committees have passed versions of health care reform legislation following discussions that stretched into the early hours of Friday morning. That brings the total up to three out of the five House and Senate Committees that have now reported legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) noted in Friday’s press conference that this is the farthest comprehensive health reform has ever gotten in Congress.

The House Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) completed their discussion and reported legislation at around 2 AM Friday. The Committee on Education and Labor chaired by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) had an even longer discussion which lasted till 6 AM and came back at 9 AM to complete the votes.

Pelosi said, “Congress has made historic progress on health insurance reform that will put patients and doctors back in charge and ensure quality, affordable, accessible health care for America’s middle class.”

Pelosi also noted the recent endorsement from the American Medical Association (AMA) of America’s Affordable Health Care legislation.

“This legislation includes a broad range of provisions that are key to effective, comprehensive health system reform...The AMA wants the debate in Washington to conclude with, real, long overdue results that will improve the health of America’s patients.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) joined the Speaker and two Chairmen to announce the “historic progress.”

“These next pivitol months will finally be our chance to deliver-and we will,” said Hoyer.

Auto Dealers Descend On D.C., Demand Right To Keep Dealerships Open

By Sam Wechsler - Talk Radio News Service

At a news conference on Tuesday, over 150 Chrysler and GM car dealership owners, whose lots have been or will soon be closed, expressed their support for the Automobile Dealer Economic Rights Restoration Act of 2009 (HR-2743).

Rep. Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.) last month introduced the bill, which aims to restore the rights and franchise agreements to General Motors and Chrysler car dealerships as they existed prior to each company’s bankruptcy. The bill is gaining momentum with over 240 co-sponsors in the House.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), who spoke at the news conference, vocalized her support for the bill by asking, “Who among us would stand against the restoration of the civil rights of working Americans?”

“[Chrysler and GM] could not tell me how shutting down any of these dealers saved them money,” added House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

According to Darcars of Rockville owner Tammy Darvish, almost 170,000 jobs will be lost as a direct result of these closings.

Prior to the companies’ bankruptcies, none of the dealerships represented at the news conference could have been terminated because they were compliant with all franchise requirements. Many of the dealerships were extremely profitable. Jim Tarbox, who owns dealerships in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, owned a Jeep dealership in the top five percent in sales volume nationally that was shut down due to personal gripes, he said.

In June, James Press, the CEO of Chrysler, stated that shutting down dealerships would save the company three billion dollars.

Lelica Callaremi, whose family has been with Chrysler and GM combined for 41 years, learned that her dealership terminated with no explanation given. She pleaded, “Mr. Henderson and Mr. Press [CEO’s of GM and Chrysler, respectively], how do you sleep at night?”

Pelosi Says House Will Vote On Health Care Before August

By Learned Foote- Talk Radio News Service

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) emphasized that “we will be on schedule...to vote for [health care] legislation before we leave for the August recess” in a press conference on Monday.

“It is our plan to introduce our legislation tomorrow,” she continued. “It won’t be the finished product, it is...to be marked up in committee to go to the next step.”

Pelosi discussed the moderate Blue Dog Democrats who have expressed some concern about certain aspects of the health care legislation. She said that such give-and-take is commonplace during the legislative process.

“We’ve made a great deal of progress, I think we’re on schedule, and the conversations have been very productive. As you get toward the end, when you’re ready to introduce and then you go to the markup and the amendment process, is when you get some of the differentiation beyond the consensus that we have built to date. But from those conversations, I feel very confident that we will have strong health care reform,” Pelosi said.

Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) acknowledged that there have been “extensive and spirited discussions,” but emphasized that “to a person, the Blue Dogs believe we need to pass and they want to support health care reform... There is nobody with whom I’ve talked to in the caucus who doesn’t believe that health care reform is essential to do and do this year.”

Pelosi also emphasized the benefits of quick action on health care reform and several private citizens called for speedy action during the press conference. Pelosi said that reform will lower costs, improve the quality of health care and provide more choices to consumers and businesses.

“You’ll hear some of our opponents of reforming health care saying that this is putting government between you and your doctor,” she said. “That’s what they say, that is just the opposite. What we are doing is removing the health insurance company from between patients and their doctors. And in doing so, we’ll provide stability and peace of mind,” said Pelosi.

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.