When lawmakers return to the nation?s capital following the August recess, there will be lots of important legislation on the agenda, but what will be front and center on everybody?s mind will be the November elections. Democrats think, with some justification, that they will regain a majority in at least one chamber once the votes are all counted.
If Democrats win the House, the logical assumption going in is that Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the current House minority leader, would succeed to the speakership.
But Democrats should think carefully about this question because there is a strong case to be made for an alternative, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland.
It is a question of moving from the politics of confrontation made necessary by being the opposition party to a politics of consensus required when in the majority.
The case for Hoyer, who as House Democratic whip is the highest-ranking Marylander ever in the U.S. House of Representatives, hinges on what would be best for America should the lower chamber change majorities.
With a return to divided government assured at least through the end of the Bush administration, there will be a premium on consensus-building. Look up “consensus builder” in the political dictionary and you find a photo of Hoyer.
Ever since his becoming in 1975 the youngest Senate president in the Maryland Assembly Hoyer?s trademark has been as a consensus politician.
There is no doubt that Hoyer is a traditional big-government liberal, but throughout his career he has demonstrated a marked ability to cross ideological and partisan divides to find workable compromises on vexing problems. His leading role in securing passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act under the first Bush presidency and the Help America Vote Act during the current administration are excellent examples of Hoyer?s skills.
We freely admit that there is a large element of self-interest as the back story of this analysis. The Washington region would benefit immensely by having one of its own as speaker of the House, regardless of which party is in power. There would also be a significant parochial pride in a Hoyer speakership because in many respects he has been the region?s most consistently successful ? though, strangely enough, not always most visible ? political leader for three decades.
What about Pelosi and the gender factor? It would be an historic first for Pelosi to become speaker, but the position represents the whole House, not justthe governing party, so the important issue would be who would be better for the nation. Pelosi fans will naturally contend she deserves the post if Democrats regain a House majority, but we believe America would be better served by the elevation of a consensus builder like Hoyer.
Of course, these considerations may prove irrelevant if the GOP retains the leadership, but it is never too early to think about what might be. If the Democrats win the House, addressing Hoyer as “Mr. Speaker” will be good for the Washington region and even better for America.
