Allen West

Allen West Not Quitting CBC: 'Warriors Run To The Sound Of Battle'

Eric Kleefeld | September 8, 2011, 6:08PM

Rep. Allen West (R-FL)

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), the hard-line conservative Tea Partier who is currently the only Republican member of the Congressional Black Caucus, has announced that he is not quitting the organization, after he had threatened to do so last week.

"Cowards run from challenges, while warriors run to the sound of battle," West proudly declared. "I will not be resigning from the Congressional Black Caucus. Constitutional Conservatism is now and will in the future be a part of the Congressional Black Caucus."

West made his threat over comments made by Rep. André Carson (D-IN), who said at a CBC event in Miami, "Some of them in Congress right now with this Tea Party movement would love to see you and me -- hanging on a tree."

West posted a message Thursday on Facebook, announcing that he had met with Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO). "I expressed my condemnation of recent comments from fellow CBC members, especially Rep. Andre Carson," West declared.

Read more »

Jobs

Angry House Dems Request Pre-Speech Meeting With Obama

Brian Beutler | September 6, 2011, 6:40PM

Rep. Raul Grijalva

The chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and of the three caucuses of black, Hispanic and Asian members of the House would like a word with President Obama before his Thursday jobs address.

In a Tuesday letter provided by a source, the leaders, who speak for a majority of House Dems, sought to make sure that Obama keeps his eye on the jobs crisis, which has disproportionately hit minority groups.

Read more »

Allen West

Allen West Threatens To Quit Congressional Black Caucus Over Attacks On GOP, While Attacking Dems

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2011, 3:49PM

Rep. Allen West (R-FL)

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), the hard-line conservative Tea Partier who is currently the only Republican member of the Congressional Black Caucus, is now saying that he might quit the group -- if they don't condemn remarks made by fellow member Rep. André Carson (D-IN) attacking Republicans.

"Some of these folks in Congress right now would love to see us as second-class citizens," Carson told a CBC event in Miami. "Some of them in Congress right now with this Tea Party movement would love to see you and me -- hanging on a tree."

This has West -- who has made no small amount of racially inflammatory remarks about Democrats and African-American voters -- calling for the CBC to denounce Carson, who holds a leadership position as CBC whip.

"It is unconscionable when a fellow CBC Member, Congressman Andre Carson, comes to South Florida and claims that some in the Tea Party would love to see black Americans 'hanging on a tree,'" West wrote Wednesday in a letter to CBC chair Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), which he also released to the media. "It is appalling to hear another CBC colleague, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, say 'The Tea Party can go straight to hell.'

"As Chairman of the CBC, I believe it is incumbent on you to both condemn these types of hate-filled comments, and to disassociate the Congressional Black Caucus from these types of remarks. Otherwise, I will have to seriously reconsider my membership within the organization."

Read more »

Debt Ceiling

Will Liberal Dems Swallow Debt Deal Slammed As A 'Satan Sandwich'?

Susan Crabtree | August 1, 2011, 5:20PM

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Rep. George Miller (D-CA)

Some of the most senior and well-respected members of the Democratic caucus are simply disgusted with being force-fed the debt deal President Obama, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) hashed out with GOP Congressional leaders, but many will likely hold their noses and vote for it anyway.

The anger and disappointment is painfully obvious when you talk to some of the liberal stalwarts of the caucus. Pelosi told ABC News' Diane Sawyer earlier Monday that she planned on voting for the deal, even though she considered it a 'Satan sandwich with a side of Satan fries" simply because there were no other viable options.

Read more »

Debt Ceiling

Boehner To Pelosi: Hey, A Little Help Here?

Brian Beutler | August 1, 2011, 5:04PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) doesn't want Democrats to think they can leave him hanging on the the floor Monday night when the House votes on legislation to raise the debt limit, and slash deficits by at least $2 trillion.

But with Democratic leaders declining to whip for the bill, and wide swaths of their party vowing to oppose it, he's got to be wondering whether they'll come through.

Here's what he told reporters at a Capitol press conference Monday.

Read more »

Spending

Dems Fight To Protect For-Profit Colleges From Disclosure Rules

Brian Beutler | February 17, 2011, 12:19PM

Dep. of Education Sec. Arne Duncan

There's a fight brewing between Democrats over whether to allow the government to crack down on for-profit colleges and universities.

The Department of Education is tired of federally subsidized student loans going to shady for-profit colleges that have poor track records of getting the students who do graduates good work -- often leaving them stuck with mountains of debt. To curb this phenomenon, the agency has been moving along with a new regulation they call the "Gainful Employment" rule.

Under "Gainful Employment" rules, for profit schools would have to show that their students can find work without getting stuck with unreasonable debt in order to qualify for federal loans.

But behind the scenes, a bipartisan bloc of House members see things differently. They say the rule would reach too far and clamp down on institutions that do a decent job of educating and preparing students. But they want to tie the Department of Education's hands completely, and block the funds they'd need to implement the rules at all.

Read more »

Bush Tax Cuts

Congressional Black Caucus Offers Progressive-Friendly Tax Cut Proposal

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 10, 2010, 12:48PM

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are so exasperated by President Obama's tax cut deal with Republicans that they're offering up their own progressive-friendly proposal -- and lashing out at the White House.

At a press conference today, CBC members basically said they didn't believe Obama will be able roll back the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest in the midst of a presidential election year. Obama has said he'll fight for the an expiration of the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans after the two-year extension contained in his deal.

"We've already established the principle that failure to extend tax cuts amounts to a tax increase," Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), who authored the CBC's alternative plan, said, pointing to the conservative rhetoric of the past year. "If we can't cut them off now, what is the chance that we'll be able to 'increase taxes' in the middle of a presidential and congressional election?

Read more »

Jim Clyburn

Clyburn Insisting On Vote For Whip

Brian Beutler | November 9, 2010, 3:16PM

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)

A source close to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn just put the kibosh on the possibility of an orderly transition into the minority for Democrats.

Clyburn is running against House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to be the minority whip next year. Since late last week, Hoyer allies have called on the two contestants to end the race and agree to take the number two and three seats at the Democratic leadership table this January: Hoyer as Minority Whip, Clyburn as conference chair.

But Clyburn is now holding out for a vote within the Democratic caucus, the source said.

Taking a step down the ladder, according to the source, is "unworkable" for Clyburn.

Read more »

James Clyburn

Clyburn: Don't Count Me Out!

Brian Beutler | November 9, 2010, 9:39AM

Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC)

After watching Majority Leader Steny Hoyer conduct an overt campaign to become House minority whip next year, current Whip Jim Clyburn is starting to make a more public play for the leadership office.

Last night, the Democratic Conference's Vice Chair Xavier Becerra became the first member of leadership to endorse in the contest -- and picked Clyburn.

"James Clyburn deserves to be reelected Democratic Whip in the 112th Congress," Becerra said in a statement. "Through some of the toughest legislative efforts in recent history--from health care to Wall Street reform--Mr. Clyburn found us the votes when they counted most. He fought to pass legislation that is putting America back to work and laying the foundation for a future where America leads the world in the new energy economy. He is a stalwart supporter of fixing our broken immigration system and providing every American a decent education and an equal shot at the American Dream. James Clyburn has my vote to continue as our Whip in the 112th Congress."

Read more »

House Democratic Whip Race

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Backs Clyburn's Leadership Bid

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 8, 2010, 12:41PM

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)

Rep. Jim Clyburn's (D-SC) colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus have chosen to back his bid for a spot in the Democratic leadership, according to CBC chair Barbara Lee (D-CA).

The AP reports that Lee has sent a letter of support for Clyburn's run for Minority Whip, which will be the second highest position in the House Democratic leadership when the Republicans take over in January. Lee's letter said "that Democrats need Clyburn's expertise 'bridg(ing) what divides us' during the next two years," the AP reports.

Read more »

Pete Sessions

Top GOPer Pete Sessions Makes Racially Insensitive Remarks About Dem Incumbents

Brian Beutler | October 7, 2010, 5:14PM

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)

It's true that Democrats are spending ad money in a number districts recently considered safe. But NRCC chairman Pete Sessions dramatized that fact in a peculiar way in an interview with Roll Call today.

Sessions said that it's telling that the DCCC is spending money on "African Americans like Sanford Bishop. And when you have to retreat back to ... your hard base you're having to make tough decisions."

Democrats are seizing on the remark.

Read more »

Ethics

Nothing To See Here! Supporters Of Plan To Handcuff Ethics Panel Lay Low

Brian Beutler | June 8, 2010, 12:38PM

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)

Independent watchdog groups remain up in arms about a new proposal to limit the powers of an ethic panel that oversees and investigates members of Congress. But they'll have to wait a bit longer to hear back from supporters of the plan, who have been largely silent

The watchdogs say that a resolution introduced last week by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), and cosponsored by 19 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, would leave the Office of Congressional Ethics without any teeth: unable to initiate investigations on their own, and barred from considering most complaints filed by outside groups.

And, they say, there are conflict of interest issues as well. Many of the cosponsors of Fudge's legislation have been OCE targets. And the panel once faulted one of Fudge's top aides, Dawn Kelly Mobley, for facilitating an ethically questionable Carribean junket for CBC members several years ago, when she worked for Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Fudge insists she began working on her resolution before she knew Mobley was the target of an investigation.

Read more »

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.

Read more »

2010 elections

Harry Reid's Damage Control Phone Tree Helped Stifle Controversy

Christina Bellantoni | January 12, 2010, 11:13AM

President Barack Obama talks with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Oval Office.

When comments he thought were off the record to two reporters surfaced in the new book "Game Change," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid knew it wasn't going to be good. Reid (D-NV) already was facing a tough political climate back home and the added fallout from remarks about President Obama's race could pose a big problem if his fellow Democrats turned against him.

Reid quickly went about locking down support, initiating a phone tree first to apologize to key black leaders in and out of Congress and also to make sure they wouldn't be speaking out against him.

One of the first calls was to Rep Barbara Lee (D-CA), who leads the Congressional Black Caucus. She issued a supportive statement as the news sped around the Internet.

Read more »

Health Care

Obama Meeting With Progressives, Key Caucus Leaders: 'Productive'

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 9:10AM

President Barack Obama in Roosevelt Room

President Obama last night spent about an hour with leaders of several key Democratic caucuses talking about health care.

TPMDC waited to talk to members as they left the evening meeting, but it got started late so leaders of the Progressive, Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific American caucuses hurried out instead of speaking to reporters.

A senior administration official tells us this morning:

It was a productive meeting that lasted for about an hour. The President congratulated the members on working so hard to get a meaningful reform bill put together in the House. They talked about strategies for ensuring choice and competition, expanding coverage, controlling costs, ensuring that minority health is addressed, and discussed the road forward.

Health Care

Obama Meeting With Progressives And Key Democratic Caucus Groups On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 9:50AM

After House Democrats reveal their version of the health care bill this morning on the Capitol steps, President Obama later this afternoon will hold a private meeting with some of the most key groups he must keep united to pass a plan.

The White House says Obama will gather in the Roosevelt Room with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

As TPMDC has written, Obama's relations with these groups have not always been warm. Progressives were irritated the conservative Blue Dog Democrats were hosted at the White House to discuss health care last month.

On an unrelated note, we're wondering if Obama will discuss with the members of the minority caucuses the accusations from Republican lawmakers that the Council on American Islamic Relations planted spies on Capitol Hill as interns.