In a scene reminiscent to the 2008 House Republican protest of the then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s adjournment for the August recess, on Wednesday, the House of Representatives GOP leadership adjourned until Friday, Dec. 23, with a vocal protest from Democratic Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.
Hoyer took issue with the Republican adjournment before taking up a bill that would have extended the payroll tax break. On Tuesday, the House voted to send the payroll tax cut to a conference committee instead, where the members of the House and Senate will meet to resolve the issue. As Republicans left the room, Hoyer continued to speak:
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker — we would like to ask for unanimous consent that we bring up the bill to extend the tax cut for 160 million Americans as you walk off the floor, Mr. Speaker. You’re walking out. You’re walking away just as so many Republicans have walked away from middle class taxpayers, the unemployed and, very frankly, as well, from those who will be seeking medical assistance from their doctors — 48 million senior citizens. We regret, Mr. Speaker, that you have walked off the platform without addressing the issue of critical importance to this country, and that is the continuation of the middle class tax cut, the continuation of unemployment benefits for those that risk of losing them and the continuation of access to doctors for all those 48 million seniors who rely on them daily for their health.
Watch:
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