Steny Hoyer News

“We simply can't continue to add to the backlog of projects that are already out there”

The House approved what could become the first override of a President Bush veto Tuesday, with Republicans joining Democrats in challenging the president over a $23.2 billion water resources bill that addresses pressing infrastructure needs while offering hundreds of home district projects.

'I must respectfully disagree with President Bush's veto of this important and long overdue water resources development act,' said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the top Republican on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in explaining the rare rebellion of the GOP faithful toward the president. Read more

Kucinich succeeded earlier in preventing Hoyer from from tabling the motion. Republicans sided with Kucinich, eager to put Democrats on the record impeaching Cheney. via The Corner

“This is a moment of truth for this Congress”

Populism is making a comeback on Capitol Hill this week. House Democrats are revving up the message machine to beat back Republican critics of their measure to postpone the alternative minimum tax this year for ... via Washington Examiner

“They spent $1.5 million through their various shill outreach groups attacking me and a handful of my colleagues”

It seems Bullwhip Nancy and Stonewall Steny suck at leadership. Gosh, who would have thunk it? In less than 9 months after promising bipartisan work and getting things done, all Steny and Nancy have done is ... via Weapons of Mass Discussion

“They can send their members home crowing about their accomplishments”

Congressional staffers set up for a rally in front of the Capitol. One year down, one to go, and the Democrats were rocking outside the Capitol this morning, with a DJ spinning the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bruce ... via New York Times

“Congress needs to keep their promise, to stop wasting time, and get essential work done on behalf of the American people.”

The New York Times reports: The House majority leader, Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, told fellow Democrats this week that the House would not be in session next year on Fridays, except in June for ... via Just Barely Inside the Beltway

“When we override this irresponsible veto, perhaps the president will finally recognize that Congress is an equal branch of government and reconsider his many other reckless veto threats”

President George W. Bush on Friday vetoed a popular bill that would authorize hundreds of water projects across the country, escalating a battle with congressional Democrats over domestic spending. via Reuters

“Health-care costs are the key fiscal problem for the budget.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , U.S. Comptroller General David Walker and other witnesses on Wednesday testified before the Senate Budget Committee on legislation that would establish a commission to ... via MediLexicon

“We're willing to put substantially more money into covering the policy that we hear members of Congress advocate”

House Democrats, convinced that President Bush blundered by vetoing an expansion of a children's health care program, plan to approve a very similar bill this week even as the administration offered new concessions Tuesday.

The Democrats' revised bill would reduce the number of adults and higher-income families potentially eligible for the health insurance subsidies, presumably making it easier for Republicans to back it while saving face. But on the key issue of spending, Democrats say they will not budge from the original $35 billion pricetag. Read more

“The President has asked for $196.4 billion of supplemental funding this year for Iraq and Afghanistan ... while he argues as to whether or not we ought to increase ... cancer research, diabetes research, heart/lung research for our citizens.”

Democrats are reversing President Bush's cuts to education, health research and grants to local communities as they gird for Bush's first-ever veto of a regular appropriations bill. via Las Vegas Sun

“We're hoping in the next three or months to make it clear what has been done and make it clear we are upset that more has not been accomplished because of the president's refusal to change direction.”

Posted on 10/22/2007 5:16:03 PM PDT by mdittmar Nearly one year after recapturing control of Congress, House Democratic leaders will embark on a publicity blitz starting in November to combat a dismal 25 ... via Free Republic

Medicaid Generic Drug Reimbursement Rule Independent pharmacists on Wednesday held a press conference in La Plata, Md., to express concerns about a rule finalized in July by CMS that will reduce Medicaid ... via EMaxHealth

“It was too precipitous a process, and it ended up in a train wreck”

By Big Tent Democrat , Section Legislation Posted on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:30:57 AM EST Tags: There is a passage in today's WaPo article on the Senate capitulation on FISA that demonstrates how little ... via TalkLeft

Democratic leaders in the House were forced to suspend consideration of legislation updating the laws for warrantless wiretapping Wednesday after Republicans threatened to offer a procedural blockade. via Washington Examiner

Deepening unhappiness with President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress soured the mood of Americans and sent Bush's approval rating to another record low this month, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll ... via 2 Political Junkies

“Every member of the majority will now have the opportunity to go on record.”

House Democrats, confounded by a Republican procedural maneuver that would force an embarrassing vote on terrorism, yesterday called off a vote on an electronic-surveillance bill that the White House opposes. via The Washington Times

“You either stand with our children or you stand against them”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., center, speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. via The South Mississippi Sun Herald

Some Democrats in the U.S. Congress are urging the party's leadership to drop a resolution labeling Turkey's World War I killing of Armenians as genocide. via The Post Chronicle

“One of the principle tenets of the Constitution. . . was to ensure that King George cannot listen in, come into their homes without probable cause”

The White House threatened to veto wiretap legislation a day before Wednesday's planned vote in Congress, and said that restrictions on government authority would hamper its fight against terrorism. via Manawatu Evening Standard

Against the backdrop of a presidential veto threat, the House readied a vote on an eavesdropping bill that would expand court oversight of government electronic surveillance in the United States.

The bill, which was scheduled for a vote Wednesday, allows unfettered surveillance of foreign targets but requires special authorization if the foreign targets are likely to be in contact with people inside the United States _ an effort to safeguard Americans' privacy.

Critics of the bill say the authorization, commonly referred to as a 'blanket warrant,' will tie up intelligence agents in red tape, impeding them from conducting urgent surveillance of terrorist suspects. Read more