Top Democrat predicts – again – his party can win back the House
Washington (CNN) – Defying virtually all political analysis, the No. 2 House Democrat said his party has "a good shot" at winning enough seats in November to regain control of the House of Representatives.
Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer made a similar prediction in February, but no veteran political observers believe the House Democrats are in a position to pick up the 17 seats they would need to win back the chamber. In fact most national observers believe Republicans will keep or slightly expand the 234 GOP seat majority they hold now in the House.
Hoyer: Obama administration 'should be considering' Iraq airstrikes
Washington (CNN) - The No. 2 House Democrat said Tuesday the United States "should be considering" airstrikes in Iraq to counter the insurgency from militant groups sweeping the country.
Speaking to reporters about Iraq, Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, blamed Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for the deteriorating conditions in the region now.
House Democrats unclear on whether they'll boycott Benghazi panel
(CNN) – The No. 2 House Democrat harshly criticized House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to move forward with a select committee to investigate the deadly Benghazi terror attack, and said Democrats haven’t decided if they’ll participate.
"We think this is a political, not a substantive effort," Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland told reporters on Monday about the new panel to probe the armed assault in September 2012 that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
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DNC chair on whether Democrats will win back House
Washington (CNN) - Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz says her party will gain seats in the House of Representatives in this year's midterm elections.
But the congresswoman from Florida wouldn't go as far as others in her party have in predicting that the Democrats will win back control of the House come November.
Hoyer predicts Democrats positioned to win back the House in 2014
Washington (CNN) - The second ranking House Democrat predicted his party was in good position to retake control of the House of Representatives in the 2014 midterm election.
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer pointed to a fundraising advantage for Democrats, lower poll numbers for congressional Republicans, divisions inside the GOP ranks, and a good recruiting class of Democratic challengers, and said "all of those combined in my view give me great optimism that we're going to win back the House."
No. 2 House Dem blasts 'irresponsible' Iran comments
Washington (CNN) - Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, blasted as "irresponsible" comments by Obama administration officials who have suggested that lawmakers pushing for tighter sanctions on Iran are increasing the risk of war.
Hoyer, of Maryland, didn't name names, but an aide said he was referring to several comments from various officials over the past month.
FULL STORY Top House Dem regrets using 'Obamacare' to describe health care law
Washington (CNN) - As the White House begins a series of events over the next few weeks to highlight the benefits of the new health care law, the number two House Democrat said the President's signature domestic achievement doesn't need to be rebranded, but he regrets referring to the Affordable Care Act as "Obamacare."
"I wish I hadn't' called it Obamacare before because that has politicized it and has been used by Republicans as a pejorative term," Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, told reporters on Tuesday.
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GOP on insurance cancellations: "We told you so"
Washington (CNN) - The White House isn't in damage-control mode solely over a bad health care website.
As the Obama administration is trying to calm concerns across the country from Americans being dropped from their current plans, Republicans on Capitol Hill are saying, "We told you so."
In March 2010, then-Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, came to the House floor as Democrats were poised to pass Obamacare and issued a warning.
"Look at this bill," Boehner said. "Ask yourself: Do you really believe that if you like the health plan that you have, that you can keep it? No, you can't."
No. 2 House Democrat says easy for Republicans to lose control of the House
Washington (CNN) - The number two House Democrat predicted Tuesday that after plummeting poll numbers following a two week government shutdown it's easy to see how Republicans could lose control of the House of Representatives in 2014.
Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer recounted a conversation to reporters on Capitol Hill that he had recently with Charlie Cook, a top political handicapper who publishes regular analysis of congressional races across the country in the Cook Political Report.
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Top House Dem: Gun lobby likely to block new laws
Washington (CNN) - The number two House Democrat believes the deadly shooting at the Washington Navy Yard will renew the debate over gun control, but admitted that outside groups opposed to any new restrictions make it unlikely that Congress will enact any new laws.
"If the past is prologue that prologue is not very helpful," House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, referencing failed attempts on Capitol Hill to pass new gun laws after previous mass shootings, told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
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