Vice President Joe Biden was honored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund with the Distinguished Service Award. During his acceptance speech, the Vice President joked that the significance of the award was diminished when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) was honored with the same award last year. (0:11)
John DuBois, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Representatives from the organiztion Maryland Black Mayors appeared on Capitol Hill Tuesday to show their support for health care reform, citing the need for cancer screenings, increased diabetes testing and funding for health care outcome research that takes race into account.
“The impact of not having an affordable health care option negatively impacts the community, and threatens the economic recovery of the municipalities in our state,” said Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant.
The mayors were joined by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
“Health care is a necessity…..we need health care that’s affordable and accessible,” said Hoyer. “That’s what this legislation is about and that’s why these Mayors are here today.”
Speeking at the Maryland Black Mayors press conference held in the U.S. Capitol today, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) stated that health insurance is not an option.
“I think health care is a necessity,” Hoyer said. (0:32)
http://media.libsyn.com/media/talkradionews/20091006StenyHoyer.output.mp3 [0:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadBy Michael Combier-Talk Radio News Service
This morning, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) stressed that the Nancy Pelosi-CIA debate should be left behind and that the media should focus on more important subjects. In a press briefing, Hoyer talked mainly about the Pelosi-Debate and what will be dealt by Congress in the coming days in order to recover from the economic crisis.
“I believe the Speaker when she says she wasn’t specifically briefed on the interrogation techniques,” Hoyer said. After the Democrats met last night, Hoyer pointed out that “the caucus is solid” and that “nobody mentioned the subject.”
Responding to the allegations that the CIA misled Congress, Hoyer said that the House was not advised of the specific techniques and that Leon Panetta, the director of the Intelligence Agency, could not speak truthfully because he was not present when the events happened. Additionally, Hoyer claimed that “Republicans and Democrats made it clear they wanted to have good relations with the CIA” but that they needed to keep updated.
Hoyer claimed the attacks made by Republicans on Pelosi are “a Republican tactic to distract the public from what was done” by the previous administration and as long as the story will make the headlines, the Republicans will not stop talking about the controversy.
Bringing an end to a tumultuous week of debates is necessary to tackle legislations that need to be dealt by Congress such as the Credit Card Bill, Energy or health care,Hoyer said. Congress started on a “very fast start”, he added, and it needs to continue in a fast pace in order to contend with the “substantial agenda” ahead.
Hoyer stated that the Democrats remain committed to economic recovery and responded passionately about how the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights Act “will be on the floor” very soon, possibly before Memorial Day.
Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) summarizes the Democratic budget priorities, criticizes Republican alternative.
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by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
This morning Congressional Democrats presented a budget they claim will make essential investments in the economic recovery and drastically reduce the deficit nearly in half by 2014.
