Jobs

Blue Dogs Cool To Obama Jobs Vision

Brian Beutler | September 14, 2011, 1:29PM

Rep. Heath Schuler (D-NC)

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed remarks by Rep. Kurt Schrader to Rep. John Barrow. TPM regrets the error.

Blue Dog Democrats are pushing members of the joint deficit Super Committee to reduce the deficit significantly more than they've been tasked with. But they don't want to talk about President Obama's jobs plan. And beneath the surface its clear that there are major differences between the White House and conservative members of his party.

Leaders of the Blue Dog caucus held a press conference in the Capitol Visitor's Center Wednesday to push the Super Committee to "go big." But thanks to an explicit efforts by Democrats and the administration the deficit panel's work has become linked to the idea of job creation, and Obama's jobs bill. But the Blue Dogs didn't really want to talk about it.

After the press conference I asked Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) whether he agreed with CBO chief Doug Elmendorf -- and by extension Obama -- that the wisest economic path involves near term stimulus followed by long-run fiscal restraint.

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NRCC

NRCC Learns How To Attack Dems Over The Budget (AUDIO)

Brian Beutler | April 26, 2011, 9:27AM

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)

Just before the House adjourned, Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) voted against the Congressional Black Caucus budget, the Congressional Progressive Caucus budget, the House Democratic budget, the Republican Study Committee Budget, and the House GOP Budget -- the only one of the five options on the table that passed.

That gives Republicans an opening to attack him for refusing to cut spending without mentioning that their own budget does extremely unpopular things -- like reducing deficits over the course of decades by unloading health care costs on to seniors.

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Blue Dogs

Senior Blue Dog Says House GOP 'Talked Down' To Them On Budget

Susan Crabtree | March 30, 2011, 5:03PM

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN)

Any attempt -- real or imagined -- by House Republican leaders to court enough Blue Dog Democrats to their side on the budget talks to avoid a government shutdown, may have backfired.

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), a founding member of the Blue Dogs, told TPM he didn't think the talks were "all that effective" because House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had "talked down to them" during a recent meeting.

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Blue Dogs

Conservadems Try To Strip Pelosi's Power To Assign Committees

Brian Beutler | November 17, 2010, 12:01PM

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Three of the conservative Democrats who've been grousing about Nancy Pelosi's bid to lead the party in the 112th Congress are trying meekly to strip her of some of the perks that come with being top dog -- like making committee assignments.

In a letter circulated to Democratic members this morning ahead of the Dems' leadership elections, Reps. Larry Kissell (D-NC), Jim Matheson (D-UT), and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), are trying build support for stripping Pelosi of the powers that come with being minority leader.

"In light of the significant losses our party suffered earlier this month, we believe it is imperative that today's organizational meeting should provide all Members the opportunity to openly debate the rules that will be proposed for the 112th Congress and offer amendments that they believe would improve the ability of the Caucus to develop and message a Democratic agenda, recruit candidates, and return Democrats to the majority in 2012," they write.

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Nancy Pelosi

Shuler Now Says He'll Run Against Pelosi For Minority Leader

Brian Beutler | November 4, 2010, 4:10PM

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi hasn't announced whether she'll retire, continue to serve in Congress, or even seek a leadership role in the next Congress, but already one of the House's most conservative members is trying to undercut her. Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC), who dodged the shellacking on Tuesday, says if Pelosi makes a play to be Minority Leader, he'll run against her.

"If there's not a viable alternative -- like I said all along -- I can go recruit moderate Members to run in swing districts," Shuler said. "In that situation, I could do it better than she could, and that's what it's going to take. It's going to take moderate candidates to win back those seats."

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MS-04

Blue Dog Dem Gene Taylor: I Voted For McCain In 2008!

Eric Kleefeld | October 25, 2010, 12:03PM

Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS)

When it comes to Blue Dog Democratic Congressmen in red districts distancing themselves from President Obama, it doesn't get any better than this: Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS) says he voted for John McCain in 2008, the Biloxi Sun Herald reports:

Taylor said he voted for Republican John McCain for president and is annoyed a Palazzo ad blasts the Mississippi congressman for voting with Pelosi 82 percent of the time. He likes to emphasize the times he's broken with the leadership on major votes, such as health care and cap-and-trade. Taylor is often viewed as a potential party-switcher; asked about switching to the GOP, he said, "Both parties are screwed up. They're screwed up in different ways."

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Bobby Bright

Blue Dog Bobby Bright Jokes That Pelosi Could 'Get Sick And Die'

Eric Kleefeld | August 26, 2010, 11:48AM

Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL).

Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL), a freshman Blue Dog, is trying to give some humorous examples to fend off accusations from his conservative constituents that he's an automatic vote for Nancy Pelosi to be Speaker: As Bright seemed to joke, Pelosi could die before it comes to that.

As the Montgomery Advertiser reported, Bright was speaking to the local Chamber of Commerce about his possible vote for Pelosi:

Bright, who is is in his first year in Congress and facing a battle against Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby this fall, joked that Pelosi might lose her own election, decide not to run for the speaker's job or otherwise not be available.

He suggested, jokingly he insisted to his audience, that Pelosi could fall ill and die in coming months. That remark drew laughter from the crowd.

Greg Sargent spoke to the Advertisers's reporter, who gave Greg the original quote from Bright. "Let's wait until that comes up," Bright said, then giving a long list of reasons why Pelosi might not run for Speaker of the House. "Heck, she might even get sick and die."

Blue Dogs

Rep. Markey Flips From No To Yes

Rachel Slajda | March 18, 2010, 5:59PM

Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO)

Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO), a Blue Dog who voted against the health care bill in November, says she will vote for the new bill.

Markey told The Coloradoan today that she made the decision after seeing the Congressional Budget Office's cost estimates.

"Particularly in the out years there's significantly more deficit reduction and I have to say this is going to be the largest deficit reduction bill that I will ever vote for," Markey said.

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Health Care

Key Dems Get Face Time With Obama On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | March 4, 2010, 12:44PM

President Obama with his advisers in the Oval Office.

The White House added something new to President Obama's schedule today - meetings with key members of House Democratic caucus groups who want to have their say on health care.

The conservative Democrats Obama is attempting to woo - several who attended his party last night - to win the needed votes on the final health care plan this month will get to speak with the president in the Oval Office at 2:30.

They are all leaders of the New Democrat Coalition. As we mentioned earlier the group's Health Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Jason Altmire told reporters today he won't change his mind.

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Health Care

Ten Democrats Who Opposed Health Care At White House Party

Christina Bellantoni | March 4, 2010, 9:37AM

A blue dog.

President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden last night hosted a reception for 31 Congressional Democrats to thank them for pay-as-you-go legislation, and 10 members in the group happen to have voted against health care reform the first time around.

As Democrats attempt to shore up enough votes to finish their yearlong push on health care, Obama is helping leaders secure as many wavering Democrats as possible. The White House says he is doing what he can to convince fiscal conservatives the health care measure that passed the Senate is the right choice.

A White House party certainly isn't going to convince the lawmakers who opposed the health care bill last fall but it could help, and Obama made the pitch last night.

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Health Care

House Postpones Caucus Meeting--Leadership To Meet With Members Individually

Brian Beutler | January 20, 2010, 1:53PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

As an addendum to this post, which noted that House leadership would hold a caucus meeting this afternoon to regain control over their caucus and put together a new coalition to pass health care: that meeting has been canceled, and rescheduled for 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Leadership will instead hold individual meetings with key members--including progressives, and blue dogs--to achieve the same ends.

We'll bring you more information about who's involved and what the message is when we get it.

Democrats

Determined or Delusional? House Leadership Sounds Optimistic on HCR

Brian Beutler | January 19, 2010, 10:11PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

In the hours and minutes before Republican Scott Brown won Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, House Democratic leadership sounded resilient, even optimistic notes about the possibility of passing health care reform anyhow. But that puts them at odds with their rank and file members, particularly progressives, who, based on press reports and interviews conducted as returns were coming in, but before the race was called, now have a hard time seeing an endgame.

A number of progressives say that they still can not vote to pass the Senate bill in the House, even though that would wrap up the reform project once and for all. But with at least one Democratic member of the Senate pre-emptively saying there should be no more Senate votes on health care before Brown is seated, that increasingly appears to be their only avenue. The question is, is that road blocked?

"If it comes down to that Senate bill or nothing, I think we're going to end up with nothing, because I don't hear a lot of support on our side for that bill," said Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA). "I've lost my faith in anything happening quickly that requires Senate action.

"If she loses, it's over," Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) said this evening in New York.

Two high-profile progressives--Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)--said the only way they could sign on to the Senate bill is if it was accompanied immediately, or even preceded by, a separate bill, making a number of major preemptive changes to what they regard as an inferior package.

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Blue Dogs

Conservative House Dems Coming Around On Health Care Reform?

Brian Beutler | December 31, 2009, 12:15PM

A blue dog.

I just updated our running tally of Democrats who voted 'no' on the House health care bill. If a pattern's emerging, it's this: The most conservative, and vulnerable Democrats are still going to oppose reform after a final bill emerges from the House-Senate conference. So, it seems, will members like Eric Massa and Dennis Kucinich who opposed the House bill on the grounds that it wasn't far-reaching enough.

But for the first time, we're seeing signs that some of the members who opposed the bill the first time around are keeping their options open--even leaning towards supporting the final bill if it closely resembles the Senate package.

Freshman Blue Dog Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO) says some positive things about the Senate bill, and is keeping an open mind. Blue Dog Jason Altmire (D-PA) is on the record saying that the Senate bill is stronger than the House bill, and that "a lot" of Blue Dogs might flip their votes from 'no' to 'yes' if the Senate bill prevails in conference.

This is roughly as expected--but we'll let you know if the trend changes in the days and weeks ahead.

Health Care

Breather Over, Merger Talks Begin And White House In Health Care PR Mode

Christina Bellantoni | December 30, 2009, 11:12AM

Pres. Barack Obama and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

The halls of Capitol Hill may be quiet for the holiday break, but the health care merger calls started this week.

Senate sources tell TPMDC that nothing formal has happened but after a short respite for team health care, the White House and Congressional leadership tasked with negotiating a final plan have gotten back to work.

Staff and members have started discussions but meetings won't start until next week, an aide says. The real talks between lawmakers are likely to start the second week of January.

Meanwhile, the White House is using the slow time to sell the health care plan in a less traditional way.

Jen Cannistra of the administration's health care team blogged on the White House Web site a long timeline with photos of the "road" to health care reform.

From community talks on health care one year ago to House and Senate passage of a bill, Cannistra's narrative was used as a tool to explain in detail the basics of what will be in the bill President Obama signs next year. (The sticking points aren't mentioned.)

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Health Care

Blue Dog Bright Tells Constituents He's Still A 'No' On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | December 29, 2009, 10:15AM

Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL).

Blue Dog Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL) is unlikely to vote for the final health care bill despite House leadership's confidence they will earn support from fiscal conservatives.

Bright, in one of the state's reddest districts, said in a Kiwanis speech reported by the local paper he thinks both the House and Senate bills don't do enough to curb rising costs.

"After it comes back from conference committee, unless it significantly reduces the expense that I know it's going to add to our budget, I will not be able to support it," Bright said.

He restated his opposition to a public option and told Kiwanis attendees he was "proud" the Senate's version did not include one but said the Senate bill is still "entirely too expensive."

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House '10

Two Blue Dogs: We're Not Retiring

Eric Kleefeld | December 16, 2009, 11:16AM

Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN) and Rep. Colin Peterson (D-MN).

In the midst of speculation about whether various swing-seat Democrats could end up retiring -- which would set back the Dems' chances of maintaining their majority -- two Blue Dogs are going out of their way to make it clear that they're staying.

Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN) declared: "Come hell or high water you can count me as a candidate." Davis, age 66, was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2008, at the time as his district voted 64%-36% for John McCain.

Meanwhile, Rep. Colin Peterson (D-MN) dismissed any talk of him retiring. "I don't know why anyone would give credibility to these Republican rumors," said Peterson, also adding: "As for why they are working so hard to circulate this baloney, I think they're just trying to stir things up because they don't have a candidate to run against me." Peterson, age 65, was easily re-elected with 72% of the vote in 2008, while his district voted 50%-47% for John McCain.

Blue Dogs

Liberal Groups Organize In Opposition To Entitlement Reform Panel

Brian Beutler | November 25, 2009, 11:44AM

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Earlier this month, Republican and Democratic deficit hawks in the Senate, led by Kent Conrad issued a veiled threat to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: let us set up an entitlement-reform commission to address budget deficits, or we'll kill annual legislation raising the country's debt ceiling.

That may sound like a bunch of jargon, but loosely translated it means they want to get their hands on Social Security and they're willing to let America default on its debt, potentially unleashing economic catastrophe, if they don't get their way.

That has touched off a game of chicken as Congress counts down to the new year. Though she's somewhat handcuffed by Blue Dogs, who could join Republicans in forcing legislation calling for such a commission through the House, Pelosi is adamantly opposed to the idea. One side or the other will have to budge. For her part, Pelosi will have progressive organizations on her side.

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Health Care

MoveOn Starts TV Campaign Against Democrats Who Opposed Health Care, Planning More

Christina Bellantoni | November 9, 2009, 5:19PM

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC)

MoveOn is targeting Blue Dog Democrats and one Republican who voted against the House health care bill Saturday night with tough TV ads suggesting they are supportive of a "broken" status quo.

The "first round" of 30-second ads go after Reps. Mike Ross (D-AR), Jason Altmire (D-PA), Glenn Nye (D-VA), Rick Boucher (D-VA), Larry Kissell (D-NC), Heath Shuler (D-NC) and Lee Terry (R-NE).

(For more on these Dems check out Eric's smart post on their districts.)

"The health care bill that passed the House this weekend was a historic opportunity to fix our broken health care system," said MoveOn executive director Justin Ruben.

"MoveOn members will make sure that Representatives who did the right thing know they can count on the support of their base, and that those who stuck with the insurance companies and voted for the status quo will face real political consequences," he added.

They also are planning thank-you events and print ad campaigns in the home districts of members who voted for the plan.

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Health Care

House Passes Health Care Bill 220-215

Christina Bellantoni | November 7, 2009, 11:19PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

The House of Representatives has passed a bill calling for comprehensive reforms to the American health care system and universal insurance coverage, marking a major milestone in the battle for health care reform.

It's the first time in the nation's history a chamber of Congress has gotten this far as the House passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act by a vote of 220-215.

The vote came after President Obama made a last-minute appeal to his party during the House Democratic Caucus, asking them to "answer the call" of history.

Democrat after Democrat cited history on the House floor during the rare Saturday session, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) saying generations of Americans have wanted health care reform.

"Today the call will be answered," Pelosi said, citing the late Sen. Teddy Kennedy who called health care reform the "great unfinished business of our society."

Earlier in the day, lawmakers were getting Pelosi's signature on their copies of the bill.

All but one of the Republicans opposed the bill after a day of debate, joining 39 Democrats who voted 'No.' Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) was the only Republican to vote for it.

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Health Care

GOP Compiles List Of Democrat 'No' Votes

Christina Bellantoni | November 7, 2009, 3:13PM

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)

Republicans already let the world know they will unanimously oppose the health care bill tonight, but now they are mocking Democratic divisions as more members of the majority party announce they can't support the plan in its current form.

(Watch the debate live here.)

Staffers in Minority Whip Eric Cantor's office are having some fun today, and are sending reporters updates when Democrats announce their plans to vote "No."

Cantor says: "There will be one bipartisan vote today, and that is against Speaker Pelosi's overhaul of health care. There will not be a bipartisan vote for this bill."

Here's the list they compiled of Democrats who won't back the bill, as of 6:30 p.m. (Updated.)

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Blue Dogs

Blue Dog PAC Fundraising Grinds To A Halt

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 11:57AM

A blue dog.

The Blue Dog Democrat PAC has seen its once mighty river of donations dry up nearly completely, according to a new report from the Center for Public Integrity. Last month, the PAC had just three donations from other PACs, for a total of $12,500. Between January and July, the group averaged more than $170,000 in PAC donations per month.

The three PAC donations in September came from consulting firm Ernst & Young, the Food Marketing Institute PAC and the NRA's political action fund.

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Health Care

Health Care Pulling Democrats On Left And Right, With Obama In The Middle

Christina Bellantoni | October 21, 2009, 1:40PM

United States Capitol

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the power player right now, negotiating a careful merger between two bills with a goal of reaching 60 votes in his chamber. But the two other major players - the White House and Speaker Nancy Pelosi's House are left in a bit of a holding pattern.

Top White House staffers are helping with the merger, but sources tell TPMDC it's a more hands-off approach (for now) as Reid (D-NV) builds something that his caucus will fully support. Meanwhile, Pelosi (D-CA) is presenting the "robust" public option as the more fiscally responsible choice in hopes of pushing the conservative Blue Dogs closer to support it.

Pelosi is working hard to hit the 218 votes needed for passage by bringing together the most divergent factions in her caucus.

President Obama, for his part, urged Democrats last night to consider unity over the perfect bill, highlighting good things in "the bill you least like."

Progressive Democrats learning of the president's comments this morning were baffled since there seems to be growing support for the public option and the Congressional Budget Office is expected to score the bill with that included as less costly than originally anticipated.

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Health Care

Pelosi Aims to Squeeze Skeptics on Public Option With Cheaper Bill Than Senate

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2009, 12:41PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

The House health care bill is getting cheaper, but Democrats aren't boasting just yet. Because when they ultimately break silence the hope is to present conservative Democrats in both chambers with a bill that will walk the walk of fiscal responsibility--including a public option, which is projected to save the government billions.

As always, the legislative process is unpredictable, and the Senate is operating in isolation from the House. But with the public option potentially in the balance, Speaker Pelosi's goal is this: present conservative Democrats in both chambers with a Hobson's choice between a public option bill and a potentially more expensive Senate bill that may have no public option at all.

On Friday, the Washington Post ran with leaked CBO numbers, showing that House health care leaders have reduced the price tag of their bill by at least $100 billion. The numbers were preliminary--not reflective of the current state of the legislation, which is changing constantly--but they showed a definite downward trajectory in the overall cost of its reform plan.

Still, leadership was not pleased.

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Health Care

Ross Says He Once Suggested A Medicare Buy-In As A Replacement For Separate Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 15, 2009, 6:39PM

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)

Earlier today, The Hill ran with an eye-catching statement from Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)--the chair of the Blue Dog's health care task force who recently announced he doesn't support a public option.

"I -- speaking only on behalf of myself -- suggested one possible idea could be that instead of creating an entirely new government bureaucracy to administer a public option, Medicare could be offered as a choice," Ross said.

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Health Care

Pelosi Works the Inside Game for the Public Option

Brian Beutler | September 23, 2009, 9:26AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

A number of reports suggest House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has reversed a July deal she and Democratic health care leaders struck with Blue Dogs that weakened the public option.

But though that's not accurate to the letter, it is indicative of a private fight Pelosi's waging to keep a public option--preferably a strong one--in the final bill.

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Health Care

Progressives Begin to Wobble on Public Option Commitment

Brian Beutler | September 8, 2009, 12:27PM

At least four signatories to a July letter drawing a line in the sand over a public option have suggested that they may be willing to support a compromise proposal to "trigger" a public option only as a fallback if other reforms don't produce results on their own.

"Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, for a public option with reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates...is unacceptable," the letter read. "We simply cannot vote for such a proposal."

Among the signatories were Reps. Mike Capuano (D-MA) Jim McGovern (D-MA), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), and Sam Farr (D-CA), who now say that definitions of "public option" may vary.

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Health Care

Key Blue Dog: I Will Oppose Health Care Bill with Public Option

Brian Beutler | September 8, 2009, 9:56AM

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)--the leader of the Blue Dogs' Health Care Task Force--says he will vote against health care legislation if it includes a public option.

"I have been skeptical about the public health insurance option from the beginning and used August to get feedback from you, my constituents," Ross wrote in a newsletter to constituents. "An overwhelming number of you oppose a government-run health insurance option and it is your feedback that has led me to oppose the public option as well."

"[I]f House leadership presents a final bill that contains a government-run public option, I will oppose it," he added.

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Health Care

Blue Dog Jim Cooper In Online Shouting Match With Markos "Kos" Moulitsas

Eric Kleefeld | August 24, 2009, 3:06PM

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN)

Blue Dog Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN) is now in a public feud with Daily Kos publisher Markos "Kos" Moulitsas, after Kos commissioned a Research 2000 poll that ended up showing Cooper's Democratic constituents disapproving of his actions on health care -- and the Republicans approving of him in this area.

Said Kos: "There is certainly an opening for a strong primary challenge. Cooper isn't the lock many (including him) believe him to be. And why are the natives restless? His long record of obstructing health care reform surely ranks among the reasons. The public option polls strongly in Cooper's district, yet he doesn't seem to care"

Cooper fired back in a statement, attacking the reliability and fundamental accuracy of the poll -- saying that Kos is wrong to even accuse him of opposing a public option. And while he's at it, there's stuff Cooper likes in the poll, too.

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