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Published December 23, 2015
Incoming House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) says if negotiations over rules for a vote on a health care repeal are any indication, some Tea Party Republicans may have a rough home life.
He claims no amendments were allowed to be added to health care repeal legislation and that no Democrats were even present to negotiate.
"There are a whole lot of people in the Tea Party that I see in these polls that don't want any compromise. My presumption is they don't have happy families", Hoyer jokingly said. "All of you have been in families; Parents, grandparents. The fact is life is about trying to reach accommodation with each other. Compromise is going to be necessary."
House Republicans often carped about Democrats blocking them from offering amendments and trying to alter major pieces of legislation in the Rules Committee when Democrats were in the majority.
But incoming House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) demurred when asked by reporters multiple times Tuesday if there would be an "open" rule to govern the debate for the health care repeal legislation when it hits the floor next week.
"The American people are expecting action," Cantor said of repealing the health care bill.
The House Rules Committee establishes the terms of debate for most pieces of legislation that hit the House floor, such as determining what if any amendments would be in order and how much time lawmakers will spend on an issue.
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) is a former member of the Rules Committee and sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to fellow Democrats, encouraging them to offer amendments to the GOP's repeal package.
In a statement, Welch said that the Democrats' amendments would "preserve" the elimination on lifetime health insurance coverage limits, coverage of individuals up to age 26 on their parents' plans, the requirement that individuals not be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions and the requirement that preventive care be provided free of charge, including the provision which took effect just this week that provides preventive services for seniors.
Fox Senior House of Representatives producer Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hoyer-lack-of-compromise-makes-for-unhappy-tea-party-families-cantor-vows-gop-action