Hoyer lashes out at GOP floor speeches

[babylonsister]

Hoyer lashes out at GOP floor speeches
By Molly K. Hooper
Posted: 07/21/09 02:44 PM


Tensions rose on the House floor Tuesday when Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) took on dozens of Republicans in the chamber who, for more than two hours, continued blaming Democratic policies for not creating new jobs.

"I've been listening to this litany of 'Where are the jobs?' " Hoyer fired off. "We have lost 200,000 less jobs per month than Bush lost in his last three months in office over the last three months. Is that where we want to be? It is not. But it is 200,000 better than your last three months in your administration. Those are the facts. Refute them if you can. Keep talking."

More than 50 House Republicans used their privilege to give a one-minute speech on the floor — most asking, "Where are the jobs?" That question was asked in the context of Democratic measures such as cap-and-trade, the economic stimulus package and healthcare reform.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/hoyer-lashes-out-at-gop-floor-speeches-2009-07-21.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. FINALLY! Hoyer does something helpful. nt

[geckosfeet]

3. Yeah! He showed 'em by yelling.

He does have a point. But those numbers need to be compiled and presented in a way that even Joe the plumber can understand. Then they need to be distributed to the masses.

[demosincebirth]

4. Sorry to say, but I don't think dems know how to do that.

[gratuitous]

2. Gee Steny, why aren't you being all bipartisan?

This is exactly what the Republicans did in the early 1990s under Newt Gingrich. The one minute speeches, which nobody ever really listens to or reports on, are a quaint little House ritual designed to allow members to brag to their constituents about how they brought up this or that issue "on the House floor." They're usually addressed to an empty House chamber before most members show up for the day's business or during caucus and subcommittee meetings. Then-Speaker Tom Foley got pissed at the Republicans then, too, and ordered the CSPAN cameras to pan the empty chamber, but the damage was already done.

Hopefully Hoyer and the rest of the Democrats are onto this nonsense, and will be right on top of the minority back-benchers before we're treated to an endless parade of You Tube videos portraying "courageous" young Republicans challenging the "Democrat" leadership on their failed policies.

[MADem]

5. I like Steny Hoyer. I've met him. He's a swell fellow. Very humble.

Quite dapper, but not puffed up.

[AnnieBW]

6. I can actually be proud of my Congresscritter for a change

I'm in Hoyer's district. He's a DINO, but he takes good care of the Federal Workers - of which I'm one. The only person to primary him in 2008 was a Larouchie.

[spanone]

7. assholes-in-arms