Right Voices

That took all of 4 days..

Incoming Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) backed off slightly from his promise to keep the House in session five days a week during a press conference yesterday with House leaders.

Hoyer explained that his previous comments about extending congressional working hours, which were made at a meeting with reporters earlier this week, were taken too literally.

“Everyone took that literally and presumed that when members aren’t here, they are on vacation,” Hoyer said, adding that when members return to their home districts, they continue to work hard talking to constituents.

He stressed that Congress would be working more in Washington in the new year, staying in town for full days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Under Republican leadership, lawmakers usually worked Tuesday evening until Thursday afternoon, a schedule Hoyer found unacceptable.

“We will work every Friday,” he said, adding that if legislative business is completed for the week, the day would be cut short.

“The American people expect us to work : they expect us to have oversight,” he said.

Hoyer today released his expanded legislative schedule, which features late-Monday votes and fewer recesses for the 110th Congress. As promised, it also requires members to be present for 6:30 votes Monday night and to stay through Friday.