House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer calls for bipartisanship

During a press conference today, Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Md) discussed the need for a bipartisan effort on upcoming legislation, stating that true bipartisanship means “working together to achieve objectives on behalf of the American people.”

The House will meet on Wednesday to vote on the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, which aims to provide over 4 million children with health insurance. Hoyer stated that ensuring the health of American children will be a “very definite benefit to our country and our people.” He hopes for bipartisan support of this bill.

When discussing the economic stimulus plan, which the House Republicans voted against unanimously, Hoyer stated confidence in President Obama and expressed the need to act quickly for stabilization. In response to the Republican’s rejection of the bill, he gave an example of President Clinton’s economic plan in 1993 which received no support from the Republicans, but the plan created substantial economic recovery.

When asked about the need to borrow money from China for the stimulus, Hoyer stated “absolutely I’m concerned.” However, he believes, “in the short term, there’s no alternative… failure to get the economy moving will cost us more.”

Hoyer concluded the meeting by again expressing the need to be bipartisan. He stated that President Obama is “absolutely correct,” that the American public wants its leadership to work together in order to fix the problems that we have.