Miscellaneous

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) laced into Congressional Republicans on Monday for what he called their “deep irresponsibility” in pursuing a strategy that banks on the country’s failure.

In a 25-minute address to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the No. 2 House Democrat laid out an expansive critique of a minority party he charged with choosing “slogans and symbolism over constructive contributions.”

On Monday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer delivered a startling speech on the obstructionism of minority Republicans and the dangers that poses to Congress and the country. It's not common for politicians to address structural problem directly, or at length. It's certainly not common for congressional leadership to do so. But Hoyer, who is generally regarded as an old-fashioned moderate, is worried about the institution he serves. We spoke by phone earlier Thursday.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer on Monday said Republicans have failed the test of leadership by refusing to come to the table on the big issues facing the country, offering a preview of a line of attack in next year's campaigns.

The Maryland Democrat, in a speech to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, said Republicans are making all of Congress less effective by deadlocking on issues, and he began to lay the groundwork for arguing that Democrats' failures are the result of a Republican Party that won't help.