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