Hoyer says House could take lead on extending tax cuts

If the Senate can't pass an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts the House may take the lead, a Democratic leader said Thursday. 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said while the House is waiting to see what the Senate does, his chamber may "take over the effort" if the upper chamber can't move legislation. 

The comments came this afternoon as Senate and House Democrats were still working out a strategy on when to vote on extending, at the least, middle-class tax cuts. 

It was growing less likely that Democrats in either chamber would take a vote before leaving next week for the mid-term elections. That would leave the issue for the lame-duck session. 

Democratic leaders have joined President Obama's in calling for an extend tax cuts for the middle class while letting those for the upper brackets expire. 

"There will be no tax increases for middle-class Americans," Hoyer told reporters today. "We are committed to that."