The Hill News

The No. 2 House Democrat on Friday cited Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels's (R) call for a "truce" on social issues as a reason the GOP should drop controversial riders from legislation to fund the government the rest of this fiscal year.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) name-checked Daniels, apparently looking to use the potential GOP presidential candidate against House Republicans.

{mosads}"As Gov. Daniels has said, we ought to fight the social issues on another bill," Hoyer said on NBC's "Today" show, while noting no deal has yet been reached on a funding bill to avert a government shutdown. The government's spending authority expires at midnight.

Hoyer voiced a similar argument, again naming Daniels, moments later on MSNBC.

Daniels is regarded as a fiscal hawk and served as budget director in President George W. Bush's White House. He's mulling his own run for president, and has called for a "truce" on the social issues, ! including abortion, that often dominate debate in Republican primaries.

Hoyer's mention of Daniels comes because of riders - policy measures contained in the hotly-debated spending bill -- that would cut federal support to Planned Parenthood, and curtail some of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulatory powers.

Democrats have blamed those riders for holding up a deal before Friday night's deadline.