Shifting From Majority To Minority Party, Seeking Common Ground

Gridlock and partisanship have been the dominant themes on Capitol Hill in the recent past, but as Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) prepares to join the minority party in January, he's laying out some policy areas where the two parties may be able to find common ground.

Hoyer says both parties need to work together to expand the U.S. manufacturing sector. He also says future economic vitality hinges on investments in science and technology.

"Now it's time to invest in the fundamentals of longterm, self-sustaining growth. Growth that is not founded on debt," Hoyer says.

He also says Congress should make further educational reforms and simplify the tax code. But analysts say there are few points of agreement between today's highly polarized parties, which means there may be little room for compromise.