Populist Caucus To Form In House: Braley

The fierce populist streak that has been coursing through America will soon have an official voice on Capitol Hill: the Populist Caucus.

Rep. Bruce Braley, an Iowa Democrat, will officially announce the formation of the caucus later this week, with 21 founding members -- all Democrats. The initial purpose will be to influence legislation from within the Democratic caucus, but Braley did not rule out opening the group to Republicans.

Braley said that the caucus will give voice to the populist anger created by the plummeting economy and opaque bank bailout.

"As someone who has been out holding town hall meetings and getting a faceful of that populist rage, I know that it is real, it is a force that needs to be dealt with, and it needs to be given a voice," said Braley.

It won't be all pitchforks, though, Braley said. "We want to give voice to those cries and at the same time work constructively with other individuals in Congress to craft policies that are going to respond to those concerns."

The Populist Caucus will make its first major play by advocating for the inclusion of a "Buy American" provision in the stimulus package. Fair trade, healthcare and middle-class tax policy will also dominate the caucus' agenda, said Braley, a sophomore member.

The founding membership includes folks from a broad swath of the political spectrum, including Reps. Michael Arcuri (D-NY); Pete DeFazio (D-OR); Betty Sutton (D-OH); Leonard Boswell (D-IA); Steve Cohen (D-TN); Joe Courtney (D-CT); Keith Ellison (D-MN); Bob Filner (D-CA); Phil Hare (D-IL); Mazie Hirono (D-HI); Hank Johnson (D-GA); Steve Kagan (D-WI); David Loebsack (D-IA); Eric Massa (D-NY); Linda Sanchez (D-CA); Jan Schakowsky (D-IL); Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH); Peter Welch (D-VT); and John Yarmuth (D-KY).

Comments

[robeson]

Rep. Bruce Braley, Please change the title from 'Buy American' to 'Invest in America'.
For most middle and lower income groups the ability to buy only 100% made in America is a fantasy, something they could never achieve (for example there is probably not one US auto that meets this criteria, and almost all the big box stores would go under). It would be an empty slogan and make living conditions worse for most of this group. I wouldn't mind Wal-Mart and Target going under but many would be devastated.

Invest in America would be something achievable and would help this group from day one. There is no down side. US products would start to compete, and there would be real Buy in America choices again. Imagine the backing for 'Invest in America not Iraq'. The entire country except the arms industry would be supporting you, and your group.

[Reaniel]

Exactly... Invest and then make it so that our product is desirable in the global market, instead of empty statements like "buy American"... I mean seriously...

[yankeeinoxford]

I am a democrat and I am 100% for creating American industry. We do have to be careful, however, that we don't fall prey to protectionism, which is the worst thing we could do at this point. As long as new industry is balanced against trade, we should be alright. I would also like to say (going off on a tangent I realize) but I hope we don't end up in a situation where, like the 1980s, people resort to xenophobia to cope with the economic downturn. Hopefully, this caucus will strike the right balance.

[ILibertine]

I would sure like to see this caucus grow, and I hope those of similar mindset contact their reps to join, or encourage their's if they are among those listed. This is a potentially important development if strong advocacy for interests other than corporate and rich can draw tangible support from the electorate. It will take active lobbying from like-minded individuals, however, to offset the sheer power of big money and vested interests that have so infiltrated "our" government. More power to these reps.!

Insofar as "Buy American" - there needs to be a concerted effort to bring industry back into our borders. NAFTA is such a huge job exportation device, it needs overhaul. You may be hard pressed to find "Made in USA" for a lot of items anymore, buy you can favor them whenever possible, and reject "Made In China" by reading labels. As both national security and economic well-being are concerned, our interests have been disgracefully undermined by trade policies, with the evident dismantling of the middle-class in the process. Unless one wishes merely a low-paid service sector and a super-rich 10%, it would seem obvious there needs to be drastic re-appraisal of our policies.

[NeoStar9]

I hope this new caucus does well. Great idea.

[NoSillyName]

Revive the old slogan "Always Buy American". Or "Look For The Union Label".

Put Americans back to work.

Remember. Anyone?

[ManwithaParachute]

People should take to the next level. Go local for anything possible. Put your money in a local S&L instead BOA. With all things there is a balance and no you won't be able to do it anywhere near 100% but if you want your local community to thrive in tough times you should be part of the solution instead of the whiney bitchy masses who just want to blog out their unhappiness.

There is no such thing as free trade. The rest of the world subsidizes. The rest of the world has their Buy "INSERT COUNTRY NAME HERE" programs and then lobby our government to ignore it's own interests. The US Chamber of Commerce is just a lobbying arm of foreign corporations.

[AsISaid]

I come from a family of steelworkers and rubberworkers. I am 1000% union. It would be great to have a "buy american" requirement in federal and state laws. There are some practical issues that have to be considered - ones that go beyond the emotional arguments.

The taxpayers in this country will demand that the "lowest and best" prices be obtained in bids for projects. For those of you who remember, foreign companies dumped cheap steel on the world market for years. Most of these companies, based in Japan, Brazil, and Russia, were directly subsidized by their governments. Our steelmakers were not. The USA, on the other hand, got the Reagan-bug and allowed tax policies that rewarded taking profits and investing them in things other that productivity and retooling. These are a part of the things that led to the demise of our steel industry. The cheapest priced steel is no longer made in the USA. Requiring it to be purchased from USA producers will probably raise the price of the project.

Trade policies in this country are skewered. If we preclude due consideration of foreign imported steel, our products will be restricted in other countries.

I'm all for "buy American" - but unless trade, tax and other issues are resolved, it's all hat and no cattle.

[freshnotbitter]

Don't forget what we were all taught: We can't have a thirties style depression again because back then we had Smoot/Hawley tariff protection of America industries which proved to be a huge mistake and that is why we have global free trade today and we would never, ever, make the same mistakes again, obviously.

NOT!!!!!!!!

[Chapmanp2]

It really would be nice if the author would bother providing a little back ground on what this "buy American" provision is. It's common sense that any American would agree with & will NOT threaten trade.
Obviously assuming people are paying attention & know what they're talking about these days is simply too much to ask.

[WilliamL]

Years ago, since 9-11, I called the national AFL-CIO and asked various dept. about gettting some Made in the US Stickers and so forth, I was told that campaign was no longer in effect.

One wd. think the national office of the AFL-CIO wd. have box of Buy American, Made in the US...............................................................................................................................................................

[Chapmanp2]

This "buy American" clause that they'd like reinstated in the jobs bill really pertains to one thing. Steel.
They'd like American public works programs to incorporate American steel to try & save the Steel industry in this Country. Not 1 comment I've read on here honestly addresses that.
It makes sense to me that we'd get way more bang for our buck as we implement these public works programs & infrastructure projects that saving a flailing US industry in the process might actually give US double the bang for our buck. But what the hell do I know??? Common sense caucus is what's really needed in Congress , but I'll take populist for starters...

[Birdman]

Buy American is a ruse. Try it, unless you are buying food, eating at a restaurant or getting a hair cut or using some other service you cannot buy anything that is totally American, there is no such thing. Very few things are manufactured in this country anymore Sure you can buy Pella windows but unless you are building a new house or have a real old one with crappy windows you won't need them. Want to buy an American car or truck? Good luck they are only partly made here, parts are made all over the place and assembled here and in some cases some American cars are completely made in Mexico. Walk in any store look at 10 items at random chances are the items are not made here, there is little if any manufacturing done here anymore, least of all things average people would need. It is a challenge to find American made and what someone might think is American will surprise you when you investigate who and what was made and where.

[Chapmanp2]

try reading what these people are actually standing up for before you start peein' your pants & sayin' you can't buy anything American. Locovore will be the next financial wave to hit the US & those that have no vision will be left behind...

[hollace]

Americans will never BUY AMERICAN. Nice thought but too late. Try staying out of Walmart for a week...Try finding fresh food and vegetables now that you have Factory farms of unsafe food....Where will you sell your treasury bills ater so many years of Borrow and Spend. Chinas Save and Lend Policy allowed them to buy up your debt and Melting Arctic ice provides new customer routes for Russia Canada and China. The world has changed and the US will not be able to afford goods from other Countries. Why wont China call your debt if you are no longer their customer.
This is not Reagans World and the Shining on the hill was China and the rest of the World Rising.

[Chapmanp2]

Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of small local business owners who are finding their own nitche' markets in local economies & thriving & building their business at a time when major corporations are asking for welfare. People, if we wanna survive it's time to support the local shop that makes organic bread. It's time to support the small corner Ma & Pa coffee shop. Farmers markets, local 1 off artists, & seamstresses, second hand shops, reconstruction, & on & on it goes...
That's what will turn this thing around. Just remember the word "locovore". If you'd prefer you can run around like a chicken with it's head cut off, but it won't help.

[NoSillyName]

Its easy to stay out of Walmart in any market that has competition. I never went there when I lived in a larger city with every store I'd ever want. Small towns where Walmart comes in and puts everybody out of business, like where I am now, is another story.

I hate Walmart and can't wait to move out of this small town!

[nellie]

The sad truth is that the entire legislative body is supposed to be the populist caucus.

[ILibertine]

Yes, you're absolutely right. It is, then, a measure of how far from actual representation our congress has strayed in pursuit of its own moneyed self-interest.

[RTIII]

Ya got that right, Nel.
.

[research]

There already is a populist caucus: Kucinich.

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=109888

[ChicagoJim]

Yes, but now we can have one that includes legislators who know how to pass legislation. This group even includes members in the House leadership such as my Congresswoman, Jan Schakowsky.

Kucinich is very good at posturing. I prefer legislators such as Bernie Sanders, who takes progressive positions and actually works to find common ground with others so he can affect legislation.

[research]

Catch 22.

We don't support Kucinich, so he doesn't have the following he needs.

You aren't proud of his impeachment calls?