–House Majority Leader: Will ‘Wait To See’ Intent of Ways & Means Panel
–House to Pass Small Business Bill This Week, in Session Next Week
–Awaiting Senate Action on Tax Cuts, Stop Gap Bill
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday
the House has no immediate plans to take up a currency bill that is
largely directed at China.
At a briefing, Hoyer noted the Ways and Means Committee had a
hearing on China’s currency practices last week with Treasury Secretary
Tim Geithner.
Hoyer said he will now “wait and see” what the Ways and Means
Committee decides on any currency bill. That panel has no further
hearings or mark-ups scheduled on China currency matters.
The House will be in session next week and he listed a number of
matters that might come up. He did not mention currency legislation.
In other matters, Hoyer said the House will take up the small
business bill that the Senate approved last week. He noted the House
passed its version a long time ago.
“We have waited for this small business bill forever,” he said.
Hoyer said the House is awaiting action by the Senate on renewing
the middle class portion of the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. He noted
that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus is preparing
legislation to renew the middle class portion of the Bush tax cuts.
“We’re not sure what the Senate is going to do,” Hoyer said.
He accused Republicans of holding those middle class tax cuts
“hostage.”
Hoyer said the House will also wait for the Senate to go first on a
stop-gap spending bill that will keep the government fully funded while
work continues of the 12 annual spending bills.
Hoyer said deficit reduction must be a central concern for
policymakers going forward. “That is a central challenge we must meet,”
he said.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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