A Full House
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News
House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) presented the House Democrats’ agenda for the economy, energy, education and healthcare.
The economy remains the top item, divided between the budget and legislation to address the crisis. “The economy is continuing to suffer, we’re continuing to see the loss of jobs, many Americans continue to be put at risk,” Hoyer said.
The budget focuses on making “strategic investments” and reversing “years of irresponsible Republican policies,” he said. “We believe all of the bills we’ve passed are consistent with trying to create jobs and invest (in economic recovery).”
Two corrective legislations arebeing proposed. The “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009”, which is designed to require fairer interest rates and practices for consumers. For example, it would require that the highest interest rate-bearing part of a debt be reduced first by payments, rather last, as is now the often the case.
“In addition, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act should come out of committee this week or next,” Hoyer said.
There is a 600 page “discussion document” and four more hearings to shape the American Security and Clean Energy Act, which the House hopes to consider in early summer. He noted that this is this is the 39th anniversary of Earth Day, “I remember because I’ve been working here since the first one.”
The Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means and the Education and Labor Committees are all simultaneously working on healthcare reform. Democrats hope to have healthcare legislation on the House Floor for consideration by the August break. The goal is universal coverage and accessibility, though probably not a publicly funded single-payer model.
Hoyer discussed his recent trip to South America. Mexico seems to be committed to working with the U.S. to fight drug smuggling and related violence. Panama is willing to work on their role as a drug smuggling highway, which has increased as American forces become more successful at interdiction at sea, and on money laundering. Columbia has reduced the power of the drug lords. He described the discussions with Brazil as “positive’” “useful” and “engaging,” and said they are interested in advancing a partnership with the U.S.
Gun control may have to remain in the DC voting rights bill, if it is to pass within this session, according to Hoyer, who said, “The biggest objective is to enfranchise the roughly 600,000 citizens of the United States who happen to live in the District of Columbia.” He called their current lack of voting rights “an egregious hole in the integrity of our democracy.”
Next congress looks at hate crimes legislation
