House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland speaks during a rally for the Democratic National Committee at Richard Montgomery High School, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Rockville, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democrats counter McCarthy ‘Commitment to America’ speech with Pittsburgh visit

Kate Scanlon September 23, 11:05 AMSeptember 23, 11:06 AM Video Embed

As House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) unveiled the GOP’s “Commitment to America” on Friday in the Pittsburgh area, Democrats sought to counter his platform with a visit by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who spoke at an event with the city’s steelworkers union.

In a show of unity, McCarthy was joined by lawmakers from the party’s different factions, ranging from the controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to Rep. John Katko (R-NY), a centrist who is retiring from Congress after voting to impeach former President Donald Trump. Earlier this week, the House GOP conference lined up behind the platform’s key planks, although the agenda stops short of detailing the legislation Republicans would introduce on contentious topics such as abortion next year if the Republicans win the lower chamber.

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Ahead of the GOP event, Hoyer addressed the United Steelworkers in Pittsburgh, tying the GOP to Trump’s baseless claims of a stolen election. “Less than 20 miles away from here, Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is standing next to extremists like Marjorie Taylor Greene to unveil a platform that, in truth, has less to do with Pittsburgh steel than it does with ‘Stop the Steal,’” he said.

“Their new platform, which isn’t new at all, is long on slogans and short on details,” Hoyer said. “That’s because the true details of Republicans’ agenda are too frightening for most American voters.”

Hoyer touted Democratic legislative victories since President Joe Biden assumed office, including the bipartisan infrastructure law and the American Rescue Plan.

“Over the past two years, our Democratic House majority has been focusing on the details and putting people over politics to deliver results,” he said. “Together with President Biden and Senate Democrats, we’re building a table of security and opportunity for American workers and their families while ensuring that American businesses can compete and grow.”

Hoyer argued that “I’ve spent enough time here in Pittsburgh to know that this is a city of makers, not of ‘MAGA,'” referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

“Like hard-working Americans across our country, ‘Yinzers’ want Congress to focus on how they can afford healthcare, access education and skills training, find good jobs that pay well — union jobs! — and achieve economic security,” he said. “They don’t want extremism that seeks to tear America apart. They don’t want ‘MAGA’ extremism.”

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“That’s the choice in 2022. People over politics, lower costs, better-paying jobs, and safer communities? Or ‘MAGA’ extremism?” he said. “The choice is clear.”

Juliegrace Brufke contributed to this report.

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