Hoyer decries talk of reprisals against lawmakers

[March 25, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is voicing concern about threats of reprisal that some congressmen are getting in connection with the health care bill.

The Maryland Democrat didn't single out any lawmaker or political party in speculating about what might have fomented incidents of harassment. But he did say Thursday that lawmakers are taking threats "very seriously" and said he is concerned about them.

In an interview on CBS's "The Early Show," Hoyer said, "The bottom line is, we need to be very careful in public life that our rhetoric doesn't incite to violent acts." In one of several incidents under investigation, Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter had a brick thrown through the window of her district office in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

[Associated Press]

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