House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Wednesday that Congress will probably be in session until mid-December and possibly even later. One big factor: An initial House vote on a health care overhaul appears likely to slip into November. My objective would be not to be here for more than two weeks in December and Id prefer not to be here in December at all but obviously the realities are that weve got a lot to still do" he told reporters.
Last week Hoyer D-Md. said on the floor that a vote wouldnt come before the last week of October. But on Thursday he said It will be very doubtful well get a vote prior to the first week of November."
Speaker Nancy Pelosi Hoyer and other Democratic leaders are still trying to meld the health bills passed by three House committees into one piece of
legislation.
Across the Capitol Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid D-Nev. is just beginning the process of combining health bills produced by two different committees in his chamber.
All that takes time as Democratic leaders continue their internal deliberations in the face of unified Republican opposition to reach as much consensus as possible before bringing their bills to their respective floors.
Hoyer said that November will be a light period for the House because of the Veterans Day and Thanksgiving holidays.
Veterans Day Nov. 11 falls on a Wednesday this year making it impractical for members to have that day off and still get back and forth from home for the holiday.
Were going to be here the first and third weeks of November probably not the second and fourth weeks" he said.
