BLITZER: The punishment, we're told it was a 9-1 vote for censure of Charlie Rangel and to pay restitution for taxes that were not paid earlier in connection with some of the properties, 9-1, and he will be censured, he has been censured now by the committee. The vote will go to the full House of Representatives.

Let's talk about this and more with the House majority leader, Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Joining me in the questioning, our chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, the host of the CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION," and our senior political analyst, Gloria Borger.

What do you think, Mr. Leader? Was Charlie Rangel fairly treated?

REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), MAJORITY LEADER: Well, I think the important thing is that the ethics process worked.

Charlie Rangel obviously a popular member of the House, but -- and a powerful member of the House. Certain facts were elicited. The committee considered them, and, obviously, has come out with a -- with a judgment., first, that he was involved in the allegations that were alleged, and, secondly, with a recommendation for action by the full House.

So, the Ethics Committee process worked. I think that is -- I would think the American public is pleased with that. I think it is a sad day for Mr. Rangel, who has served very honorably in the House of Representatives, was a hero in Korea, has fought for his country in battle.

But this is a sad day for him. But it was an appropriate action by the Ethics Committee, in the sense that they found violations, and they took the action they deemed to be appropriate. The House will now consider it.

BLITZER: Well, some of the other punishments could have been a reprimand, the censure, which is what he got, or expulsion from the House of Representatives, which he is obviously not going to get. When we hear that he has been censured, what does that mean?

HOYER: Well, essentially, it means that the House of Representatives has found that he has violated the rules of the House, and he has brought the House, by his actions, into disrepute, and that he needs to come to the floor and apologize on the floor, and take responsibility for those acts.

It is not expulsion. I did not expect expulsion. Obviously, with an overwhelming vote, the committee believed that this was the appropriate disposition. And the House will now consider that.

BLITZER: Let's move on and talk about some of the other issues that you are dealing with right now, but I want you to elaborate. Earlier in the day, you really slapped the Republican leadership for postponing what was supposed to be happening right now, a meeting and a dinner with the president of the United States at the White House. It has been postponed until November 30, after the Thanksgiving holiday and recess.

Tell us why you are upset about that Republican decision.

HOYER: Well, I was very surprised at that decision.

As I said the other day, I cannot remember an instance when either Ronald Reagan or George Bush I, as I call him, or George Bush II, three Republicans, invited me to come to the White House with other members that I didn't accommodate my schedule to the president's schedule.

I think that shows respect. It also shows a willingness to work together with the individual elected president of all the people and the representatives of the people in Congress. I was very surprised that they did not respond to that.

(CROSSTALK)

HOYER: As you know, he did meet with the Democrats this afternoon. I think it would have been helpful to have the Republican leadership there as well to discuss how we go forward.

While the leadership of the Congress has changed, at least in the House of Representatives, in terms of the relative positions that we have, the challenges confronting our country have not changed. And the American people want us to find common ground on which we can meet those challenges and make this economy better, create jobs and, very frankly, meet the fiscal challenge that confronts us as well.

So, I was disappointed.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Congressman, it is Gloria Borger.

HOYER: Hi, Gloria.

BORGER: Do you think, then, to put it bluntly, that they were snubbing the president?

HOYER: I certainly think that is the way it looks. And I think that is unfortunate.

President Bush invited Speaker Pelosi and I down to -- she was not speaker then, nor was I the leader -- two days after the election, he invited us down to lunch in '06, November of '06. And we went down. And we had a very cordial lunch.

(CROSSTALK)

BORGER: Why would they snub President Obama?

HOYER: Well, I think you need to ask them that.

But when Senator McConnell says that his principal objective over the next two years is to ensure that President Obama not have a second term, if that is his focus, if that is the focus of the Republican Party, I think the American people are going to be very disappointed.

What they want our focus to be is on creating jobs, growing the economy, and getting fiscal balance back to our country. They don't want the politics as usual to go on, the sniping and the fighting and the confrontation back and forth. They want to us seek common ground and solutions to their problems.

(CROSSTALK)

HOYER: And I think that this seems to indicate in fact that we are focused on politics at the very beginning, rather than on solving problems, which I think the American people want us to do.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Congressman, it is Candy Crowley.

Let me talk to you...

HOYER: Hi, Candy.

CROWLEY: How are you?

Let me talk to you about one of those problems. And that is these Bush tax cuts that are going to expire on December 31. We have talked to a number of Republicans who have indicated that they would be willing to go along with perhaps a two-year extension for tax cuts for everyone across the board.

Is that a deal?

HOYER: Candy, it is our position, as you well know, that we believe the middle class, there should be no increase in their taxes at all. We think that would be bad for them and bad for the economy.

But fiscal balance is another one of our objectives. And the best-off in America, the well-off in America, frankly, giving them an additional tax cut will not in any way, in our opinion, enhance the economy, nor will having the...

(CROSSTALK)

CROWLEY: So, where is the bipartisanship in that position, since the Republicans that want them extended permanently say, OK, we could maybe take a two-year extension? But you are sticking with your same position and at the same time calling for sort of a different atmosphere.

HOYER: Candy, I am. Frankly, before I -- before we get anyplace, we are going to have to have discussions. The president invited the Republicans, the Senate and House, down to the White House to discuss how can we go forward, and they did not come. What I am saying is, our position clearly has been that we are going to ensure that the middle class, working Americans, families, don't get a tax increase next year. Republicans are saying they don't want the wealthiest to get a tax increase, but they want to balance the budget.

We understand that position. Certainly, the president has indicated a willingness to discuss that. But if they don't come to the table, if they don't come to a meeting that the president invites them to, then we are not going to get anywhere.

BLITZER: It sounds, Congressman, like that is your opening bargaining position. We have heard the Republicans' opening bargaining position. All of you will meet at the White House on November 30, and we will see what emerges from there as far as a compromise between your position and their position.

And I can understand you don't want to negotiate that position here in THE SITUATION ROOM, but we...

HOYER: Thank you, Wolf.