The Democratic Leadership Agenda
in the 108th Congress
Scott DeFife, Senior Policy Advisor,
Office of Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Whip

(Note: Rep. Steny Hoyer was scheduled to deliver this address. However, following the space shuttle tragedy he was asked to attend a memorial service for the 7 astronauts held the same day as  the legislative conference. In his place Scott DeFife delivered a presentation on Rep. Hoyer’s behalf.)

The Democratic Leadership’s priorities for this Congress will include contesting the Bush Administration budget, which would result in a $307 billion deficit, according to newly-elected Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer. Now serving in his tenth term in the United States House of Representatives, representing Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District, Rep. Hoyer is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, and ranking Democrat (and former Chair) on the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Subcommittee. 

Scott DeFife, Hoyer’s senior policy advisor, delivered Hoyer’s presentation. Following the space shuttle Columbia tragedy Hoyer was asked to join other congressional leaders at a memorial service held the same day as NCPERS’ legislative conference.

DeFife said Hoyer has many concerns about the Bush stimulus plan, which he characterized as a tax cut that could adversely affect state and local bonds. This proposal will make managing your plans much more difficult, DeFife said.

Hoyer and the Democratic Leadership have set several priorities for the 108th Congress. They include enacting a pro-growth economic stimulus plan that would create jobs and restore confidence in the economy, and that would invest the government’s limited resources to increase homeland security.

DeFife said Hoyer had several concerns about the Bush Administration’s proposals for replacing IRAs and 401(k) plans with several new savings programs. He is most concerned that the overall effect of the proposals would be to take funds out of the budgets from future generations and transfer them to current revenue.

Hoyer is also concerned, DeFife said, with the appropriations process, which he characterized as the worst he has seen in 22 years in the House of Representatives. Congress was about to pass its eighth continuing resolution because it failed to complete the budget process last year.

As an alternative to the Bush Administration’s proposal, the Democratic Leadership has offered a stimulus package that Hoyer describes as “fast-acting, fair and fiscally responsible.” He believes the proposal would create one million new jobs and cost $100 billion over 10 years. The leadership also has its own tax relieve plan, with cuts to benefit individuals and small businesses.

DeFife said Hoyer suggests the differences between the Democratic Leadership and Bush proposals cnd be summed up with “the rule of 75.” According to Hoyer, 75 percent of the benefits of the Democratic leadership proposal goes to people making under $75,000 a year vs. 75 percent of the benefits of the Administration’s proposal goes to people who make greater than $75,000 a year.