http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=5565 Pelosi backs challenge to Hoyer The incoming speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives backed a challenge to one of Congress most pro-Israel lawmakers. Now that Democrats have won the House in last weeks elections and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is set to ascend to the speakers chair, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), currently the minority whip, is running for majority leader. Challenging Hoyer is Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), who has led anti-Iraq war initiatives in Congress. In an unusual endorsement, Pelosi lent her support over the weekend to Murtha, who has been loyal in her past internal races against Hoyer. Pelosi also favors Murtha because she wants to make Iraq war reforms a centerpiece of the next congressional session. Hoyer is considered one of Israels best friends in Congress, isolating Democrats within his party who have been critical of the Jewish state and leading numerous congressional missions to the region. Murtha also is a social conservative, and Hoyer has the backing of many liberals in the party. ----------------------------------- See also: http://democraticwhip.house.gov/in_the_news/articles/index.cfm?pressReleaseID=388 "Hoyer strives to keep Jewish vote for Dems by Hans Nichols The Hill December 10, 2003 House Minority Whip Steny Hoyers (D-Md.) speech Monday to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) will cap a yearlong strategy aimed at preventing an exodus of Jewish voters from Democratic ranks. In response to renewed Republican efforts to capture Jewish voters and donors from the Democrats traditional base, Hoyer has implemented a multiprong plan to make support for Israel a touchstone of Democratic policy, say lawmakers, aides and party operatives. In addition to leading a 29-member congressional delegation to Israel last August, Hoyer has urged non-Jewish Democrats to voice support for Israel. At the same time, he has sought to dissuade lawmakers mostly members of the Congressional Black Caucus from casting protest votes on nonbinding, but nevertheless highly symbolic votes critical of Israel. Hoyer, along with many Democrats, privately worried that last Decembers House vote on solidarity with Israel in the fight against terrorism along with President Bushs vocal support for Israel might trigger a realignment of Jewish voting loyalties. In that roll call, 17 Democrats voted no and 26 abstained, while only four Republican lawmakers voted no and only two abstained." ---------------------------------------- see also: http://www.shalomdc.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=93160 "U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) to Address Greater Washington Jewish Community About Recent Congressional Trip to Israel and Other Domestic and World Events That Impact the U.S. Jewish Community The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington and Congregation B'nai Tzedek are sponsoring a program with U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) who will discuss "America's Enduring Commitment to Israel" on Sunday, November 9, 2003, from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Congregation B'nai Tzedek, 10621 S. Glen Rd., Potomac, MD. RSVP by November 6 to Carole Hardtla at (301) 299-0225, ext. 301." -------------------------------------- http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/30826/format/html/displaystory.html "Jewish groups have also established strong ties with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the frontrunner for majority leader, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), a Jewish lawmaker who led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and is now considered a shoo-in for a leadership position. Hoyer is close to Howard Friedman, the Baltimore-based president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and is considered one of Israels best and most influential friends on Capitol Hill. Hoyer makes it a point to educate freshmen lawmakers about Israel issues and he has led delegations to the Jewish state multiple times. He prides himself on making Israel a bipartisan issue, vetting proposed legislation with his GOP counterpart, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri. "
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