Hoyer Talks About "Good Friend" Blunt's Failure To Lead On Health Care Reform

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) spoke earlier this week at a Center for American Progress Action Fund event about the obstruction tactics employed by Congressional Republicans, and their lack of interest in real proposals or governing. "Republicans have chosen slogans and symbolism over substantive proposals," Hoyer said. 

The Washington Post's Ezra Klein spoke with Hoyer after the event about his frustration.  Here's an excerpt from that interview pertaining specifically to Blunt, and Blunt's inability to present health care reform ideas as promised.

It's a bit abnormal for a sitting majority leader to deliver a policy speech lambasting his colleagues. What led to this address?

What prompted me to do this was that Roy Blunt and I are good friends, and Roy was leading the GOP's health-care task force. So back in March or April, I asked Roy to send over areas where he thought we could work together to fashion this bill. And, frankly, Roy was not able to, I think because he felt his caucus was not prepared to do that.

The reality of the Congress today is that the Republican base has become narrower and narrower as we have won their moderate seats. New York 23 was the perfect example, where the Republican nominee was too moderate for the party and so they forced her out of the race and lost. But when you're just dealing in a realm of 258 votes you have to fashion your compromises based simply on the views of one party. You don’t have the leavening effect of having a broader opportunity to fashion legislation that has a broader constituency.

Hoyer isn't exactly somebody who hates Roy Blunt's guys.  According to Roll Call, "Hoyer and Blunt share what is widely acknowledged to be the best cross-party relationship of any two leaders on Capitol Hill."  Still, Blunt's failure to lead and deliver on his promises was apparent for all to see.

Some of the Fired Up! stories about Blunt and his Health Care Solutions Group from earlier this year:

• GOP "very concerned" about the "void" left by Blunt's health care task force
• Blunt Assessment: "They look into their own camp — and get nervous"
• GOP still underwhelmed with Roy Blunt's leadership on health care
• Blunt acknowledges lack of substance in his own health care talking points
• Blunt: Health care hasn't been a priority for House leadership
• Blunt still promising a "Republican Plan" for health care
• Irony Alert: Blunt demands health care reform details from Obama
• Blunt now looking to unveil health care plan "in the coming weeks"
• Still waiting for an affordable health care alternative from Blunt & Co.
• Blunt concerned about grassroots involvement in health care debate
• World moves on without Blunt
• Missing the Big Picture
• Diagnosing What Ails Blunt's Health Care Agenda

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