Miscellaneous

Democrats withdrew a bill on Tuesday to give the District the voting rights it has long sought in the House of Representatives, saying the "price was too high" after learning of Republican plans to introduce an amendment that would eviscerate the city's gun laws.

Buoyed by the support last week of President Obama, House Democrats seemed prepared to vote this week for a bill similar to one passed in the Senate last year, even though that measure contained an unpalatable amendment weakening local gun restrictions.

The decision by congressional leaders Tuesday to shelve a D.C. voting rights bill, just days after announcing plans to move ahead, scuttles what supporters say was the best opportunity in a generation to give the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) stands at a crossroads in the Democratic agenda.

Down one path lie easy-does-it items designed to gather bipartisan support and show the party is committed to job growth in the hopes of staving off a midterm election bloodbath. Down the other lie controversial measures that Democrats could use their cresting majority to muscle through while potentially endangering even more seats.

In the midst of the unfolding Eric Massa scandal, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has asked three entities charged with internal congressional issues to work together to strengthen harassment protections for staffers who feel their rights have been violated.

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) will be honored tonight by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington at their Annual Congressional Dinner, which was recently named in honor of the late Tim Russert. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery: