Blue Dogs push back against stimulus

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Mike Soraghan

Conservative Democrats in the House are pushing back against their leaders’ economic stimulus plan even as President Obama steps up his push for the spending package.

The leadership of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats concerned about the federal deficit, sent an open letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) Thursday complaining about the size of the House bill and supporting a Senate effort to toss out much of the spending.“We believe that’s a highly worthwhile goal, and that there are additional provisions that would be better left for consideration in regular order,” said the letter, signed by Blue Dog leader Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) and the rest of the Blue Dog leadership.

Eleven Democrats voted against the stimulus package in the House, most of them Blue Dogs from conservative districts bothered by the spending. The letter said that many others voted for it because they expected it to be trimmed back in the Senate or in the conference committee that will hammer out the final package.

The letter came as Obama, along with Pelosi, stressed the urgency of passing the package. In an appearance at Energy Department headquarters, Obama said, "The time for talk is over, the time for action is now."

Congressional leaders had hoped to send the package to Obama before the Presidents Day holiday weekend, a deadline that appears increasingly unlikely in the face of growing opposition.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/blue-d...2009-02-05.html

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

By Mike Soraghan

Conservative Democrats in the House are pushing back against their leaders’ economic stimulus plan even as President Obama steps up his push for the spending package.

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

There used to be around forty or so Blue/Yellow Dog's in the House, but their number has dwindled to less than a dozen. They always had a reasonable alternative to present to the floor, and were key in "perfecting" legislation, in both the Republican and Democratic majorities. But when Nancy Pelosi took over as Speaker of the House, and the mostly southern democats were key in helping the narrow minority pass some key amendments, and under Motions to Commit. She had them "fixed", (over the objection of Steny Hoyer, one of my heros), and now, their numbers are dwindling. Glad to see a few fiesty ones are still left.

--Bullwinkle

Edited February 6, 2009 by Rocky_nBullwinkle

[Jasman0717 9]

Now they get cold feet