Hoyer: Bush is out of touch with economic reality

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) met with the press to discuss upcoming legislation and the economy. One House motion expected to come to the floor this week is the sense of the Congress in support of Georgia and Ukraine to begin actions
plans to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which is currently meeting in Romania to discuss expansion of the alliance.

The economic situation was topic number one and Hoyer outlined a report that his office published using data from the Joint Economic Committee, showing economic factors since the Bush administration took office. The report notes that 1.4 million people have become unemployed in the last 7 years, manufacturing jobs have deceased 3.4 million, the median household income is down $1,000, and inflation-adjusted tuition rates are up for four-year public colleges 36.3 percent.

The report also included data reported in the news about foreclosures in 2007 being double the 2006 rate as reported by Reuters and the March 31 report from the New York Times about an all time high of 28 million Americans receiving food stamps.

Hoyer said that the Bush administration is out of touch with economic reality and said that Republican deficits are the fastest growing part of the budget.

Hoyer also took the time to weigh in on the Democratic race for president, referencing superdelegates as “ex-oficio” delegates. He said that these delegates who are elected representatives of the Democratic party should use their judgement and experience to assist the party in selecting a nominee who can win the White House in November. Hoyer said that there is a long time between when the people of his state of Maryland voted on February 12 and the convention in August and that whatever happens in that space of time should be taken into account. He said that the fact that many superdelegates are up for election also plays into their decision as they will be held accountable by their constituency for the decision they make as superdelegates.

Before leaving for the NATO summit President Bush made a statement highlighting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the Columbia Free Trade Agreement as his priorities for Congress. Hoyer said that the environment has changed on FISA and that he expects that the White House and the minority appear to be more open to compromise now that it appears the Democrats have the votes for a compromise bill. Hoyer said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would like to engage the administration in talks regarding the free trade agreement before it is sent up to the Hill for votes