is pleased to" welcome steny hoyer. he is the democratic leadership whip. covers congress for the hill. >> hi. like to be with you. >> moderates are fleeing both parties fairly quickly. congress mcintyre and else's retirement this week. there are 15 blue dogs. two are retiring. what does this mean for the possibilities of taking the house in 2014? are these just gone? >> i do not think they are just gone. they were very strong candidates in their districts. they were very republican districts. redistricting has hurt both of them. i think we will certainly be recruiting candidates in those two districts. parties are confronting folks who have retired in districts. in districts where the other party will have a good chance of , the philadelphia suburbs are particularly a good example, but we think we have opportunities in arkansas where we have a retirement. both parties are experiencing i think the result of the frustration that has come from the gridlock that we have seen underhe last 2.5 years republican leadership where we have not acted in a positive way

we'll find out next with leaders steny hoyer and tom cole. plus cnn's dana bash.♪ yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! ♪ we are one, under the sun ♪ under the sun... [ female announcer ] fiber and protein. together as one. introducing new fiber one protein cereal. suddenly you're a mouth breather. a mouth breather! how do you sleep like that? you dry up, your cold feels even worse. well, put on a breathe right strip and shut your mouth. cold medicines open your nose over time, but add a breathe right strip, and pow! it instantly opens your nose up to 38% more so you can breathe and do the one thing you want to do. sleep. add breathe right to your cold medicine. shut your mouth and sleep right. breathe right. purina dog chow light & healthy add breathe right to your cold medicine. is a deliciously tender and crunchy kibble blend. with 20% fewer calories than purina dog chow. isn't it time you discovered the lighter side of dog chow. purina dog chow light & healthy. >>> joining me around the table, congressman steny hoyer, house minority whip and second in command to nancy pelos

reaction now from house minority whip steny hoyer. congressman, very good to have you back with you. >> good to be with you, neil. >> this concern among the troops. is it legit? are you worried? does it tell you something? >> clearly, concern on any new program of this size. however, we see increasingly many fold increases in applications. many fold increases in people who are signing up. we see young people having increased their numbers. so the answer is, i think that this program is starting to get momentum, and i think credibility, and i think it's going to grow in acceptance, not diminish, but there's no doubt that the rollout was rough. >> okay. nancy pelosi sort of wingsed when a reporter called this obamacare. what do you call it? >> well i call it the affordable care act, but i call it obamacare a lot as well. the reason she winced and the reason i try not to use it if i think of it, because so many people, we've called it obamacare for so long, is because that phrase was coined not as a supportive phrase, but as a derogatory

the art of the doable with two members of the house leadership, democrat steny hoyer and republican tom cole. >>> plus -- >> it only takes one suicide bomber to get in to cause a real problem. >> i would not go and i don't think i would send my family. >> russia's olympic-sized security questions grow. we talk with their man in washingt washington, the russian ambassador. this is "state of the union." >>> good morning from washington, i'm candy crowley. two days before president obama heads to capitol hill for his state of the union address, new polling underscores the tough environment he faces in the second year of his second term. joining me now, dan pfeifer, senior advisor to president obama. dan, let me start out with the new abc/"washington post" poll which found the president's approval rating at 46%. half the country disapproved of how the president is handling his job. cnn had a poll of polls taken before this one which was lower at about 43%. seems to me that's the first thing he needs to do, is change the public's opinion, before he can move forward on anything. >> i think th

and steny hoyer, the ranking democrat, he said that the websites problems are going down. signing up. the key architect of all of this is david. david, what you make of that? six months we start seeing this. and things are going much better. the number of people have gained coverage because of the affordable care act and there are a lot of economic benefits to millions of families. there is still a number of very tricky issues that have to be navigated, it is actually going quite well be one no offense to you, i don't think this turned out the way that you planned. but the fact of the matter is that a lot of people were concerned and net net we are down health care coverage. but did you ever think that this would be a disastrous rollout like it turned out to be? >> i think that the numbers of people gaining gaining coverage will exceed right away the number of people who lost coverage. many of those who lost coverage will get them in other ways as well. but not all of them will have to pay more. when people come forward saying that their premiums have gone up, a lot of tim

i think steny hoyer was telling me try six months. >> i think it is going to go the other way at theere is a fair amount of sign-ups even though the numbers are low but lower than what the administration wants. but when it comes to actually paying, people just aren't paying and that is something that comes across the board. whether it is amazon or ebay or anything. but the number of people sign up for something is always far exceeding the number that they pay. the evenue is a lot less. neil: let's say that insurance companies are between a ck and a hard place, they will guarantee that they will never be bailed out, could they run up a run on very quickly? could there be a shift in marketplace based on the fortunes of this law? >> definitely. neil: it falls on its own weigt and tomfoolery. but it more or less seems to me that it is a drag on the economy this year. is that correct? >> it is more as you imply wait-and-see thing. the health care industry has a lot of levers to pull. they have huge lobbyists and the plan can be rewritten. my gosh, through lower rates and better insurance

i think they will come up with omething that steny hoyer said will pass. >> that compromise includes the cutback but for some number of people on food stamps. this is something they are compromising on in an election year. what should we understand? >> republicans will claim they are compromising as well. they do not bring almost $40 million. they would say they have compromised even more. that was the strategy all along. > does it offer a playbook for the year? >> obama has brought up inequality and things like hat. both sides want to make this an issue. these are republicans saying it was a failure in democrats saying that agenda has been a success. that will be a theme all year long. they're trying to get people out f the working class would they can pay taxes. >> they're having low approval ratings as we are opening up the congress. i am wondering what will his ideas provide? >> i think you will hear a lot about the minimum wage and things that affect the middle and low income americans. i think you will push that. the approval ratings are tied very closely to how the affordable

and just a short time ago steny hoyer said that it's, quote, an irresponsible assertion and ought to be claarified and retracted. what is your response to that? >> i think i took questions thon for the last couple of days. -- >> he just said that today. >> as i have referred to others and i'm happy to do so again, the president believes that congress has been an excellent partner in the effort to construct the most comprehensive , effective sanctions regime in history. a sanctions regime that was designed specifically to try to change iranian behavior, to try to compel iran to the negotiating table. what we have seen in the last several months is that that effort has produced progress. it helped lead iran to the negotiating table, it helped the p-5-plus-1 reach the joint plan of action agreement and the implementation agreement and now we will see whether or not iran is serious about reaching a comprehensive resolution so that we can in a verifiable, transparent way be confident that iran is not pursuing and will not obtain a nuclear weapon. and we can -- and to do that peacefully. t

maryland representative steny hoyer is our test this week on "newsmakers." legislativethe agenda for the year ahead and the 2014 elections. here is a quick preview. work oncan congress this year? what are you most confident about? that congressis can certainly get something done if the republicans are prepared ofput on the floor pieces legislation that will enjoy bipartisan support and will not simply be message bills, as we dealt with last year. insurance billt -- we're very hopeful it gets done. we are very hopeful we will address comprehensive immigration reform. i think that's that can get on. i think that the evidence of that is it got 68 votes in the united states senate. it was not a partisan bill. i think it will enjoy bipartisan support in the house as well if it is put on the floor. we would like to see the minimum wage raised. as you know income inequality has been focused on iv president. we think that is wrong. we think that is a real challenge to america that the gulf between the rich and the poor is as large as it has been in a very long time.

. >> i was talking to steny hoyer, number two ranking democrat in the house and other democrats who say the enrollments are picking up steam. six months from now everything john goodman says is going to seem like an old worry. what do you think? >> well, i would say that people aren't worried enough because the risk -- there's a federal risk pool established for people who are sick, it's going to end in a month or so. and those people go to exchanges, and states with risk pools end soon and those good on the exchange. the cities like detroit that promised benefits they can't pay for, they going to dump people on the exchange. a lot of employers do the same. so i have a fear that the pool is just going to be a sicker and sicker, which means more and more costly. >> the other fear is that insurance companies push back against, will almost have be to bailed out. republicans have the measure to avoid just that sort of scenario, but how likely drew think that is? >> the republicans don't have the votes to get it passed, and what the obama administration will do subsidize the insurance compan

neil: steny hoyer told me ths about the health care law just yesterday. >> i think it's going to work and i don't think we were going to worry about it. >> people are going to see that what they are getting is good. neil: okay, one of the key architects in helping things run. we will have that this is the quicksilver cash back card from capital one. it's not the "fumbling around with rotating categories" card. it's not the etting blindsided by limits" card. it's the no-game-playing, no-earning-limit-having, deep-bomb-throwing, give-me-the-ball-and-i'll-take- it-to-the-house, cash back card. this is the quicksilver cash cd from capital one. unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere, every single day. so let me ask you... at's in your walt? then you'll know how uncomfortable it can be. [ crickets chirping ] but did you know that the lack of saliva can also lead to tooth decay and bad breath? [ exhxhales deeply ] [ male announcer ] well there is biotene. specially formulated with moisturizers and lubricants, biotene can provide soothing relief and it helps keep your mouth he

next, eric cantor and house minority whip steny hoyer talking. this is 20 minutes., on monday the house will meet at neen for morning hour and 2:00 -- noon for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. votes will be postponed until 6:30. on tuesday and wednesday the house will meet at 10:00 a.m. mr. hoyer: mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is correct. the house will be in order. the members will please remove their conversations from the floor. he house will be in order. the gentleman is recognized. mr. cantor: on tuesday and wednesday the house will meet at 10:00 a.m. and noon for legislative business. thursday at 9:00. last votes expected at 3:00 p.m. on friday no votes expected. the house will consider a few suspensions next week. a complete list of which will be announced by the close of business today. in addition, the house will consider two bills next week to fund government operations. as you know, mr. speaker, house and senate appropriators are working towards a bipartisan agreement on an appropriation

even if steny hoyer insists when it comes to the "you can keep your doctor" show, we just didn't hearn new york said, is he kidding or am i the fool for believing it? ne neil, i had to put on my farm boots when steny was talking. alex, okay, he's a jerk, but caputo, you're an even bigger jerk for having him on and getting ugly with the guy. you're both what's wrong with the country. he's snide and you're stupid. well, yeah. ed via gmail, you let hoyer off the hook. he just blabbed the same bs, shame on both of you. then the conservative conservative who wants to hike am minimum wage to $12 an hour and says we'll be the better for it. as you pointed out, this guy got rich selling his company to moody's where i bet you won't fike a single worker close to minimum wage. earl in topeka, why do so many millionaires have a guilt complex about their money? they feel free to offer their nickel and dime advice to those who aren't as fortunate. rick, via yahoo, he tried to give the minimum wage hike credit for lowering unemployment in california. you caught him on that statement, properly credit

. >>> and they may be running out of pot in colorado, but house minority whip steny hoyer does not want maryland, calling marijuana a threshold drug that leads to the use of more harmful substances, something the scientific community generally refutes. >>> he's back, former new york congressman anthony weiner will appear in tonight's drama "alpha house." you may recognize tom brokaw, michael steele, jonathan alter, and, yes, yours truly. not really a dra marx it's a comedy. and i think that's my first and last comedic role. >> you had good hair in that picture. >> thomas, you're never happy on friday unless we're flashing back to bad hair days. why do i look so tiny next to you. >> you don't have anything today about a flashback. >> i don't, but i'm expecting you and patrick to cancel whatever pathetic plans you had tonight and watch me on "alpha house." >> we will for sure, no plans other than ice cream and elastic pants. >> thomas, i'm going to miss these moments. thomas is now going to the 1:00 a.m. wakeup. what time will you set your alarm for? >> i think it's more like 3:00-ish. >>

>> well, i can tell you that nancy pelosi and steny hoyer will be pushing speaker boehner to bring this to a vote. now there is an opportunity here for the republicans to demonstrate their willingness to help those who are hurting, those who are struggling. my fear is that it will never be brought to a vote. i am convinced, however, that if it is brought to a vote because of the november elections, only a few months away, i think many of the republicans will vote for it. because many of them are representing poor districts, poor people are struggling and need jobs, and we have a chance to help them. >> so the challenge is to get a vote? >> we got to get a vote. because the people out in the country are hurting. and the only way they're going to get help is to put pressure on congress. if congress was serious about trying to create jobs, they would pass a transportation bill. >> all right, congressman emanuel cleaver and joan walsh. thank you both for your time. and we'll be -- we'll continue to watch the vote in the senate. and if we get that vote to the house, congressman, you might wa

steny hoyer who declared, quote, i think that is absolutely untrue. an irresponsible assertion and ought to be clarified and retracted. the white house would not retract it, but touted the support of other top democrats like senator tim keene, who today said congress should hold off for now on new sanctions and, quote, give diplomacy a chance. as for reid, he will not tip his hand on scheduling a vote. >> well, the legislative process is working forward here, i'm going to sit and be as fair an umpire as i can be. >> on a call today sponsored by the israel project, a former iaea inspector called on the white house to release as much of the paperwork as possible. the white house has thus far refused to release the agreement. jay carney pledged today they'll release the details soon. >> ed henry live on the north lawn. thank you. >>> the chairman of the senate intelligence committee still believes groups with ties to al qaeda were responsible for the benghazi terror attack, september 11th, 2012. dianne feinstein tells the hill, a "new york times" conclus

steny hoyer saying in six months we won't remember this, we'll be off to the races.aphasing. the gist is the healthcare law will be on its way to being very popular and appreciated by americans. what to you think of that? >> neil, i think that's what we used to call wishful thinking. the people have been notified of either their policy being cancelled, even after the president said they could keep is, period if they liked it, or the fact they're getting increases in their deductible, decreases in the level of coverage and it's costing them a fortunate of money they need to spend on their family. there's nothing that is good about that in six months. >> while i have you here -- stuff about whether insurance companies are pushed to the point like bank thieves meltup, the republicans would stand in lockstep against bailing them out, even though they were largely in lockstep about bailing the banks out then. you wouldn't do it with insurance companies. >> i don't see a mood to do that. you can also see a shift in this administration of beginning to play the blame game to

papers,week in foster's steny hoyer talks about the congressional agenda and what his party is hoping will be accomplished in the new year. the maryland congressman is minority whip in the house of representatives. here is a brief portion of what he had to say. >> what can congress truly work on this year that will be able to get done? what are you most confident about? >> the answer to your question is congress can certainly get something done if the republicans are prepared to put on the floor pieces of legislation that will enjoy bipartisan support and will not simply be message bills, as we dealt with last year. we are very hopeful that the getsloyment insurance bill done, both short-term and long- term. we are very hopeful that we will comprehensive immigration reform. we think that can get done, and i think evidence of that is a got 68 votes in the united states senate. broughted by -- bipartisan support. i think it will enjoy bipartisan support in the house as well if it is put on the floor. we would like to see the minimum wage raised. as you know, income inequality has been f

there's a gentleman from the state where i am right now, steny hoyer, who is looking at this very closely that's wondering, maybe he's going to get a little bit of promotion come november of this year. >> we can say affect natalie he's been the prince charles of democratic house politics. >> indeed. >> chris cillizza, at the risk of putting your voice to a real test here -- >> it's okay, it just sounds bad. >> but the other thing is the president out on the road today. trying to generate excitement on his post state of the union agenda and in wisconsin, an important state met by scott walker. i have to tell you, after all of chris christie's problems, when you talk to big republican money people, they are now looking very hard at scott walker as a potential republican contender. >> i think you're exactly right. i would say that two people benefited from chris christie dropping a little bit. rand paul and scott walker. scott walker is now seen as the potential establishment yet still could nservative alternat to someone like chris christie. but it is a telling statement of what it's like t

steny hoyer, the minority whip who opposed the budget deal because it didn't do enough to create a grand bargain to deal with deficit, has said he'll support this measure. i think there's going to be a strong vote. we're talking to members and seing if they have concerns. there are cuts to, you know, national institutes of health funding and certain programs, especially in the education department that may deter some especially liberal members from voting for it. host: read more from erik wasson at thehill.com. thanks for the update. in a few moments president obama's advisory group tells congress that the program hasn't had a sig can effect on stopping terrorism. in a little more than two hours, a forum on raising the minimum wage hosted by the economic policy institute. after that, it's a heritage foundation discussion of the economy. >> i think i had little antennas that went up and told me when somebody had their own agenda and not ronnie's. and i'd tell him. he didn't always agree with me but i'd tell him. it usually worked out. >> watch our program on first lady nancy reagan at our

that will be with steny hoyer of maryland. he will join us at 10:00 eastern.r calls and comments. 50 years after the surgeon general warning on cigarette smoking. from facebook, two comments. steve says it is not good for one's health. up until the 1980's, many families depended on the income to survive. many would have starved to death if they had not had that crop. eric says it is a vile habit. it is worse than smoking pot. we should incarcerate cigarette smokers. you can join in at facebook.com. mark is joining us from new york. good morning. caller: longtime viewer. first-time caller. great show and great subject. i think that smoking -- i have been smoking for about 20 years. i have to pack a day. i have become reflective in thinking that coming back to some of the clips you have shown with actors smoking cigarettes and films of soldiers in battle with lighters -- i was thinking product placement and marketing of cigarettes in this country has been specular. it has a long history. respect to the actual decline, you do not see it anymore in print. you do n

i do think that nancy pelosi, steny hoyer, they believe -- >> give me a republican.th a republican that you have your eye on that can benefit here? it is very, frankly, difficult today. somebody like tom cole is someone i have great respect for. he is a terrific guy, a very close friend. there are some others, but the problem is they are few and far between, and that is why i have that kind of difficulty. republicans are afraid of being termed as moderates and being challenged in a primary, and int is why many of them act ways that are not consistent with their conscience or their good judgment. >> we thank you so much for coming on with some straight talk. thank you so much, from the eighth district in virginia. , that was fabulous. he was not on talking points. it was great. i was just busting his chops. a democrat out of boston ever that has set a positive thing about a republican. absolutely great. david kirkpatrick, it is another world, isn't it? washington is removed. >> i agree. newe was a cartoon once -- yorkers just do not care about washington, and i am a c

thatu can see all of interview with maryland congressman steny hoyer tomorrow when "newsmakers" airs at its regular time -- 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. eastern here on c- span. >> i think that there is a way in which we have set up this impossible series of expectations, especially for our presidents, but for elected officials as a whole, that they are going to come in, swooped in, save the day, and when it does not happen, we give congress the 9% approval rating in the president 39% approval rating. expectations have to be lowered, and that is part of what is really quite amazing about the american founding. it is not that the founders themselves said, "don't expect much from government." it is, "government is not going to be the main driver of our liberty. it is going to be civil society. the federal government exists to do certain things, and it better do them well. if it does not do them well, nothing else will be properly situated, but the main area of activity is going to be in the private sphere, in civil society, and in the election of local officers and the carrying out of duti

i think they will come up with something that steny hoyer said will pass. that compromise includes the cutback but for some number of people on food stamps. this is something they are compromising on in an election year. what should we understand? claim theyans will are compromising as well. they do not bring almost $40 million. they would say they have compromised even more. that was the strategy all along. does it offer a playbook for the year? >> obama has brought up inequality and things like that. both sides want to make this an issue. these are republicans saying it was a failure in democrats saying that agenda has been a success. eme all year a thin long. they're trying to get people out of the working class would they can pay taxes. approvale having low ratings as we are opening up the congress. i am wondering what will his ideas provide? >> i think you will hear a lot about the minimum wage and things that affect the middle and low income americans. i think you will push that. the approval ratings are tied very closely to how the affordable care ac

steny hoyer said that this week.e was quick to praise the work and emphasize that he has a good personal relationship. argued that gates contradict himself in his assessment of obama. he makes an accurate charges on the biden and based timing, has created an falselyon false he -- that his motivations were political. he should have waited until the administration is over. of ours during a taping newsmakers program on c-span. the entire program will air on sunday at 10:00. gates'book -- we will atlive with him next friday 6:30. ktv.org to findoo all of the information. he will be talking about his book. dean is calling from burke. democratic line. back to chris christie and what is going on there. give us your view. caller: thank you. good morning. that you have one party that is constantly on the liberal media. you have another party that cannot get over the fact -- the past as well. the social media seems to be the driving force for many of these phone calls that we get. you have outlets that do not report the news a

leader in the senate, harry reid -- the issue of unemployment comes up in our conversation with the steny hoyer, our guest on sunday and on newsmakers, at 10 a.m. eastern and again at 6 a.m.. -- 6:00 a.m. >> there is a way that we have set up this impossible series of expectations especially for our president, but for elected officials as a whole, that they will swoop in and save the day and when it doesn't happen we give congress a nine percent approval rating and the president a 30% approval rating. the expectations have to be lowered and that is what is quite amazing about the american founding. --is not as if the americans the founders said not to expect much from government. the government will not be the main driver of our liberty. the federal government exists to do certain things and it better do that -- it had better do them well. if it doesn't do them well nothing will be rapidly situated. but the main activity will be in the civil society. but in the election of local officers, at the local and state levels, even in that there is a measure of modesty, of recognizing that it is not po

great pleasure and privilege as a marylander and an american to introduce our with in the house, steny hoyerapplause] >> thank you very much. senator kennedy -- ladies and i am convinced that senator kennedy is here. i'm convinced it was that way when i turned to nancy and said you have been such champions of the minimum wage. we just passed it. let's start working on raising the minimum wage. why would he say that? we would have to raise the minimum wage three dollars so that they would have the value that it had in 1968. two years after martin luther king jr. calls us to invest in our people. to empower them to participate in this land of opportunity. and enable them to support themselves and their families. to buy the products that america produces and makes. if we want people to make it in america, we need to make sure that they have the resources. for themselves and their families. wage wase average replaced. today, 39%. we want people to work. they lose their jobs. there are some people who talked about incentivizing work. let me suggest to them that nothing will decentralize going to

host: on the newsmakers program, which you can see tomorrow, our guest will be steny hoyer.so the house minority whip. he talked about a variety of things with reporters. he will talk about whether congress can get anything done in 2014. there will be a variety of talk it -- topics within that. [video clip] >> congress can certainly get something done if republicans are prepared to put on the floor pieces of legislation that will enjoy bipartisan support. they will not simply be built like dealt with last year. we're very hopeful that the insurance bill will get done. both short-term and long-term. hopeful that we will address immigration reform. we think that can get done. evidence is that we get 60 votes in the senate. it is not like it was a partisan passed bill. it enjoyed bipartisan support. i think it will enjoy bipartisan support in the house as well. if it is put on the floor. we would like to see the minimum wage raised. income inequality has been focused on by the president. we are focusing on that as well. we think that is a real challenge to america. we have the

the minority whip, steny hoyer, said yesterday that offsets can be harmful. hence, the battle. here's gene sperling, the white house money guy, on extending it. >> so look, why don't we do this. les pass the heller-reed proposal tomorrow. that will extend unemployment insurance for three months. it will help these 1.3 million people and their families. and then we can have time to then work for what is the best way to extend it for the rest of the year. >> you know what we're seeing right now? starting today the first day that th*e back for this new year 2014, we're seeing exactly what the dynamics are going to be going into the elections in november. it's very simple. the democrats think they've got a winner in income inequality. so they're going to push unemployment. they're going to push minimum wage, things like that. meanwhile, on the republican side, what they're going to do is they're going to remind people that the affordable care act, which the democrats installed, has been a disaster. democrats want to change the subject and the republicans want to remember, people, h

now i'd like to yield to the -- to our democratic whip, steny hoyer, whose democratic whip's task force on income opportunity. thank you for being here. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentlelady for taking this time and i thank the gentlelady even more for taking the time and focus and being indefatigable in making sure the richest nation on the face of the earth focuses on the least of these in our country. i thank her for her leader hipp. i'm proud she's working on the task force on poverty, income inequality, and opportunity and chairing that effort for our caucus. she is doing an extraordinary job. it is time, however, that all of us continue to do an extraordinary job. when president johnson stood in this chamber, at that rostrum, mr. speaker, on january 8, 1964, he declared an unconditional war on poverty in america. that's been said so many times today. he launched a legislative agenda that led to the creation of medicare, medicaid, the elementary and secondary education act, and nutrition assistance for those at risk of going hungry, particularly our children. today, thanks to that war