–House Majority Leader: Currency Bill May Be Placed On Expedited Sked
–Expects House To Take Up Stop-Gap Spend Bill Wednesday
–Vows Hill Will Extend Middle Class Tax Cuts This Year
–Predicts Dems Will Retain Control of House In Mid-Terms

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday
the House will take up a currency bill Wednesday, adding that it could
be placed on a special calendar for non-controversial bills.

At a briefing, Hoyer said the currency bill, which was approved by
the Ways and Means Committee last week, could be placed on the
suspension calendar, which would limit the debate but require a
two-thirds vote to pass.

Hoyer said Democrats would consult with Republican leaders before
placing the currency bill on this calendar to make sure there is the
requisite support for the legislation. He said he believes the bill has
strong bipartisan support.

The bill before the House would clarify current law to allow the
Commerce Department to impose countervailing duties on Chinese goods to
offset the effect of the country’s currency policies.

It was passed by a voice vote in the Ways and Means Committee
Friday.

Hoyer said the House will probably not take up legislation this
week to extend middle class tax cuts, but vowed “that will be done by
the end of the year.”

“We are going to get that done,” Hoyer vowed.

When asked why the House tax cut vote is being delayed, Hoyer said
“the Senate has not acted” on the issue yet.

But then Hoyer said the House “may well act anyway” on tax cuts
this week.

“It is certainly under consideration,” he said, but then added that
he “doubts” the House vote will be this week.

Both the Obama administration and congressional Democrats have
repeatedly said that tax cuts for individuals making up to $200,000 and
couples earning up to $250,000 should be extended.

Congressional Republican leaders have supported extending all of
the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

Hoyer said he expects the Senate to pass a stop-gap spending bill
as early as Wednesday and said the House will take it up shortly after
it clears the Senate.

So far, Congress has passed none of 12 annual spending bills for
the 2011 fiscal year which begins Friday. A stop-gap bill that funds the
government until after the Nov. 2 mid-term elections is expected.

The exact length of the stop-gap bill has not yet been announced,
but several lawmakers said it could fund the government until early
December.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **

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