(CNSNews.com) - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer(D-Md.) told Cybercast News Service Thursday that he does not think it would be "practical" to stop the war in Iraq simply by not allowing a war-funding bill to come up for a vote on the House floor. As majority leader, he has the power to do such a thing.

Hoyer also said that U.S. troops in harm's way in Iraq need support from Congress.

"I don't personally believe it's a practical alternative not to put a bill on the floor and not to let the House of Representatives work its will on what it wants to do on this issue," Hoyer told Cybercast News Service.

"Secondly, of course, a significant majority of the votes on the floor believe that while the troops are in harm's way we will support them," he said. "But there is also a majority on the floor that wants to change the policy and redeploy them."

According to House rules, Hoyer could terminate funding for the war by omitting war-funding legislation from the floor schedule of the House of Representatives. If Hoyer were to do that, a war-funding bill could only come up for a vote if a majority of the House members (218) signed a discharge petition over-riding the authority of the House leadership.

Some anti-war activists would like to see the Democratic majority take this step.

See Earlier Story:
Democrats Could De-Fund War by Not Holding Vote