Hoyer reaching out to Boehner on possible debt-ceiling compromise

Yet Hoyer can still carry a bloc of 25 to 50 Democratic votes on certain high-profile issues, making him a potential partner for Boehner if the GOP leadership loses support among conservative Republicans or tea-party-inspired freshmen. Hoyer and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) have been holding discussions on offering a joint package of spending cuts based on a recent Government Accountability Office report, and Hoyer’s support for the two continuing resolutions Pelosi opposed was critical in getting those measures passed, according to Democratic aides…

“The key here is to have Hoyer broker a thoughtful discussion” on a debt-limit increase, said Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader, a moderate Democrat. Schrader called Hoyer “the only Democrat with the cachet” to be able to cut deals with competing factions in the party and supply needed votes to Boehner, provided Democrats get their say in the legislation. “That’s gold in this body,” Schrader said.