Hoyer Discusses House Republican Divisions on CNN News Central
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined John Berman on CNN News Central to discuss how Republicans continue to be deeply divided, divisive, and dysfunctional. Below are excerpts from his interview and a link to the video:
Click here to watch full interview.
On House Republican Chaos
“Well, when you mention that Tom Emmer has 100, of course, they need 217. So they have some way to go, and of course, this has happened before, but we need to have a bipartisan path forward. And Republicans need to keep that in mind.
“The House has now been shut down for three weeks, the world is on fire, and Ukraine is still being assaulted criminally by Putin. Israel is at war, we need to help them, and we need humanitarian aid. We also need to be concerned about our Indo-Chinese security.
“So… there is a lot to be done, and shutting down the House for three weeks because the party - the Republican party is so deeply divided, divisive, and dysfunctional - is bad for the American people and bad for global security. So… I am hopeful that the Republicans will decide to come to a consensus and a bipartisan agreement with Democrats so that the House can work on behalf of the American people and on behalf of the international security.”
On House Democrats Vote for Speaker
“...We’re going to be united. What you have seen in the Democratic party is a party that is united. And our Leader has said [Democrats are] ‘ready, willing, and able to move forward with Republicans with a bipartisan path forward to do the work for the American people,’ and that’s where we are, and that’s where I think we'll be.”
On How Democrats Can Move Forward in a Bipartisan Path
“First of all, let me point out, we’ve have had a number of bipartisan votes already in this Congress which have allowed us to move forward, to keep government open—that was a bipartisan vote of over 300 people, to fund Ukraine – over 300 votes on seven different votes on that issue. We’ve voted to make a deal in effect, spending levels for this coming fiscal year— that was a big bipartisan vote. We’ve voted to make sure that the United States did not default on its debts — also over 300 votes.
“So we have a bipartisan majority, we just need to have them move forward now and be willing to work together to do the things that the American people need, that our government needs, and very frankly that the international community needs.
“They count on America. Whether they like us or dislike us, they know that America is the indispensable nation. The only nation that really has the capacity to try to bring some degree of security and stability in the international arena.
“And therefore, it’s essential that this bipartisan majority – which already exists – be allowed to work its will. And of course, that means the Republican party has to allow bills to be put on the Floor which can pass with a bipartisan majority.
“If they don't do that, if they just stand in the way of progress, the dysfunction that they have displayed will result in harm - and it is resulting in harm - to the country and to the American people.”