Pelosi: Obama's Done His Part, Now It's Congress' Turn

Soon after President Obama presented his American Jobs Act to Congress on Monday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) followed suit and released the following statement urging fellow members of Congress to schedule immediate action and hearings on the President’s legislation:

“President Obama has done his part: soon sending the American Jobs Act to Congress to create jobs, strengthen small businesses, rebuild America, and grow our economy now. We must take up and pass this legislation without further delay.

“For more than 250 days in the majority, House Republicans have failed to offer a jobs agenda. They now have the opportunity to change course, to pass the American Jobs Act, and to put people to work. 

“Our nation’s families, workers, entrepreneurs, teachers, police officers, firefighters and veterans must not and cannot wait any longer; they cannot afford political gamesmanship.  Democrats are prepared to act now on the American Jobs Act, which is fully paid for. Republicans must join us to address the American people’s top priority: job creation.”

Hoyer Considering Running For Minority Whip

Outgoing House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) released the following statement on Friday:

“In the days since the election, I have received an outpouring of support from Democratic colleagues who have told me that I should remain in our party’s leadership, so that our Caucus can hit the ground running with a strong, tested leadership team. Over the next several days, I will continue to speak to my colleagues about serving our Caucus as Democratic Whip, and I will announce a decision after I have consulted with them.”

Hoyer is presently the Democratic Leader, but would lose that position should Democrats elect outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to the position. Hoyer has stated that he will not challenge Pelosi for the job.

Instead, he’ll likely battle current Democratic Whip, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), for the number two position. Clyburn has not yet declared any intention of ceding his title.

Lawmakers React To Proposition 8 Ruling

Here’s a small smattering of opinions on yesterday’s Proposition 8 ruling in California from some on the left and some on the right:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): “I am extremely encouraged by the ruling today, which found that Proposition 8 violated both the due process and equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution.  Proposition 8 has taken away individual rights and freedoms, and is a stain upon the California Constitution.
“We must continue to fight against discriminatory marriage amendments and work toward the day when all American families are treated equally.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.): “This historic decision is a step forward in the march toward equal rights and reflects a growing legal consensus that marriage equality is protected by the U.S. Constitution.”

(Via MSNBC) Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.): “It shows an attempt by judges or people considered the political elite to impose their social views on the American people without the opportunity to vote.”

(Via Politico) Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah): “I’m disappointed. I believe strongly in traditional marriage. Thirty times plus, it’s come up for a vote in states across the country and traditional marriage has always won. Just because one judge thought otherwise doesn’t mean the fight’s over. It’s not so much that I’m anti-gay, I’m pro-traditional marriage. I believe in traditional marriage. I’m not trying to take anything away from one thing or anything else. I just believe that commitment to traditional marriage is part of the American way. There’s 2,000 years of history behind it.”


(Via Politico) Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.): “I think that [Judge] Walker is wrong in this case. The people of California overwhelmingly voted almost two years ago in a ballot initiative to amend their state constitution and basically ban same-sex marriage by definition. What right does the federal court have to come in and say that this is unconstitutional from a federal perspective?”

Short Lived Vacation: Pelosi Reconvenes House For Vote

Congressmen will have to postpone vacationing and campaigning for a few more days.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi confirmed through a Tweet that she would reconvene the House Monday and Tuesday of next week to vote on a package to provide $26 billion in aid to states’ Medicaid and education programs.

The bill made it through the Senate Wednesday with 61 Senators voting for the legislation.

By Robert Hune-Kalter - Talk Radio News Service