Hoyer Does More Than Hold His Nose

Democrat Pushes Rescue Package Despite Misgivings

Among the first people that House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer called when he arrived at his office in the Capitol yesterday were T-Bone and Heather, the morning-show hosts on a rock-format radio station that broadcasts from Hoyer's Southern Maryland district.

The hosts expressed disbelief that the U.S. Senate had added more than $100 billion in tax breaks to an already massive plan to shore up the U.S. financial system. Hoyer (D-Md.) told them that he wasn't happy about it, either.

"I think it's bad policy . . . and we shouldn't be doing it," Hoyer said during the 7:40 a.m. call. "I'm angry about it."

In nearly the same breath, Hoyer said that the House should pass the bill today, or that people who live in such places as Leonardtown in St. Mary's County could face "a tough problem" getting credit when buying a washing machine.

"The bottom line is, this is about average working people," Hoyer said.

Nearly two years after his ascension to the No. 2 position in the House, Maryland's longest-serving congressman is facing one of the biggest challenges of his career, both on Capitol Hill and back home, as he tries to sell what he believes is a flawed, but necessary, deal.

Since the House voted down an earlier version of the $700 billion bailout Monday, Hoyer, who was first elected to Congress in 1981, has been a constant presence on national television, handicapping future votes and warning of the consequences if Congress does not act.

He has been working the phones, telling fellow fiscally conservative Democrats in particular not to abandon the "rescue package," despite the deficit-expanding measures added by the Senate.

At the same time, Hoyer has been trying to reassure voters in his district that the bailout is needed, despite calls to his office that he says are now running about 3-to-1 in opposition (down from 6-to-1 a few days ago).

About three hours after getting off the air with T-Bone and Heather, the often-loquacious Hoyer was being peppered with questions by more than 50 Capitol Hill reporters packed in a conference room that is part of his office suite.

Despite earlier indications to the contrary, Hoyer told the reporters, he did not expect too many fiscally conservative Democrats, known as Blue Dogs, to reverse course from Monday and vote against the bill. Even though they are concerned that measures added by the Senate will add to the deficit, they understand that the stakes for Main Street are too high for it to fail, Hoyer said.

"The Blue Dogs have a problem. They are responsible people," he said to laughter.