Majority of Incoming Freshmen Endorse Hoyer
More than half of the incoming Democratic freshman lawmakers are expected to endorse House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) bid for Majority Leader in a letter to be issued Friday afternoon.
According to the letter, 21 of the 41 Democrats who definitely will be coming to the House next year have offered their support to Hoyer, who is competing with Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) for the No. 2 leadership post in the 110th Congress.
“Having gone through this exciting and tough campaign season just like you, we know how difficult it was to achieve victory. And now that we have won our races, we must turn our attention to governing,” the letter states. “In addition to setting up our Washington and District offices ... among the first — and most important — decisions each of us will have to make is whom to support for our Democratic Majority Leader.”
The letter is signed by Reps.-elect Baron Hill (Ind.), Nick Lampson (Texas), Albio Sires (N.J.), Michael Arcuri (N.Y.), Nancy Boyda (Kan.), Bruce Braley (Iowa), Kathy Castor (Fla.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Keith Ellison (Minn.), Brad Ellsworth (Ind.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Phil Hare (Ill.), Paul Hodes (N.H.), Hank Johnson (Ga.), Ron Klein (Fla.), Tim Mahoney (Fla.), Harry Mitchell (Ariz.), Ed Perlmutter (Colo.), John Sarbanes (Md.), Heath Shuler (N.C.) and John Yarmuth (Ky.).
Roll Call
Any Black Caucus members sign that letter? I doubt it. Pelosi is in the unenviable position of trying to herd cats. In order to keep the Black Caucus happy, she's going to have to give Ways and Means to Rangel and Intelligence to Hastings. And Conyers is in there, too. Moderate Democrats need not apply -- for anything.
I have a feeling at least ONE of them, Ellison may change his mind..if Murtha is the leader of choice by the CBC.
Since Conyers has a website in Arabic for the Muslim Caucus...and I am pretty sure the CBS would be for Murtha, and getting the troops out of his constituents' country.