The Blue Dogs

WASHINGTON - With the 110th Congress getting underway today, the big question is: Will they be able to get anything done? In the House of Representatives, we know that Democrats are in control and Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker. But the true power base may rest with "The Blue Dogs." Washington, D.C. is full of animals. We all know about the elephants and donkeys, but have you ever seen a blue dog? I mean, they come in all shapes and sizes, but a blue one? Actually, to find a Blue Dog, you have to come to Capitol Hill. Then you'll bump into one. Congressman Mike Ross, D-AR, is one of the leaders of this political dog pound, and he has the pedigree to prove it. Ross said, "We're conservative, we're moderate -- we're Blue Dogs." This coalition of House Democrats was formed in 1994, the same year that Republicans took power. These conservative Democrats felt they were being 'choked blue" by the liberal wing of their party, hence the name. "We find ourselves in the middle,' Ross said, "which, quite frankly, is where I believe America is." And their numbers are growing. They grew from 35 members to 44, courtesy of the mid-term elections. Those nine new "Blue Pups" make up nearly 20 percent of the incoming Democrats. Ross said, "It was not liberal Democrats defeating Republicans. It was Blue Dog Democrats. It was conservative, moderate Democrats who were defeating Republicans." It's turned them into a serious and powerful voting block "The Blue Dogs have the theoretical power to guide everything that happens in this new Congress," said Michael Crowley, Senior Editor of New Republic Magazine. While the Blue Dogs lean conservative on social issues, their true bread and butter is fiscal discipline like balancing the budget and reducing the debt. In their offices, you always see the growing u.s. debt chart. It's not the group's positions that's drawing attention -- it's their potential. If they stick together as a block, they can influence legislation. That means that House Speaker Pelosi will need to pay attention to keep them happy and on board. She's already backing one of their main legislative goals. It's called "Paygo," which means that any new spending is to be paid for with cuts in other programs or new revenues. Crowley said, "She's going to have to make her legislative plans knowing that she has to have the Blue Dogs on board or it's not going to get anywhere, and that's a tremendous amount of power. That means they are going to have a seat at the table in all her planning meetings." And already, the Blue Dogs are barking. "We may not control what comes to the House floor, but I can promise you this," Ross said, "We'll have a big say in what passes and what doesn't when it reaches the House floor." He added, "We do not plan to be obstructionist, but we are not going to be a rubber stamp either." And the Blue Dogs can become even more powerful if they team up with the "Tuesday Group." These are moderate Republicans who have similar policy goals. Last year, the two groups combined to help pass a Republican-backed bankruptcy bill, despite pleas for unity from Democratic leaders. President Bush is watching closely, and recently invited them to the White House to discuss how they can work together. Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-SD, said "We're looking for common ground, among ourselves, with our Republican colleagues and certainly with the President of the United States." But there may not be all smooth sailing ahead. The Blue Dogs definitely grew since the mid-term elections, but there are other factions hungry for power within the Democratic Party. "You can almost think of the Democratic caucus as tribes in Afghanistan," Crowley said, "and they all have their own warlords and they are all fighting for power and perks." Case in point: Barbara and the progressives. No, that's not a 50's doo-wop band. Congresswoman Barbara Lee leads the progressive caucus. They will have at least 62 members in this Congress, maybe more, and believe the anti-war, liberal policy is the way to go. How Speaker Pelosi handles the different coalitions within her own party poses a great challenge. Crowley said, "That's the dilemma. That's the tightrope she has to walk. She's going to have to try and please everyone. At the end of the day, she's probably not going to please anyone. But the test will be, do they hold onto their majority? That will be the way to please everyone." And it looks like the way the Democratic Party will do that, at least initially, is to offer a more centrist agenda. That would play right into the Blue Dogs' vision for the country. "We're committed to building a new Democratic Party that's going to look a lot like your Grandpa's Democratic Party," Ross said. The numbers seem to be in their favor, which would give them a lot of bark and bite in the 110th Congress.