Blue Dog Dems Cashing In On Clout

Members of the House of Representatives once again canceled a health care markup session on Thursday after negotiations with Blue Dog Democrats stalled.

The cancellation makes it unlikely that members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee will be able to complete a bill before the House is scheduled to adjourn on July 31.

The Blue Dogs are a fiscally conservative Democratic coalition who have become considerably more powerful as of late. Their votes are key to advancing the Democratic agenda.

A report by the Center For Public Integrity recently found that the coalition raised a record-breaking amount in the first six months of 2009.

So far this year, the Blue Dog Political Action Committee is on track to shatter all its fundraising records; in fact, the total for the first six months of 2009 -- more than $1.1 million -- is greater than what was raised in the entire 2003-04 fundraising cycle. Furthermore, according to analysis by the Center for Public Integrity of CQ MoneyLine data, the energy, financial services, and health care industries have accounted for nearly 54 percent of the Blue Dog PAC's 2009 receipts (up from 45 percent in 2004). These contributions poured in as President Obama and the Democratic Congress have been making a major push to reform health care, develop a new energy policy, and restructure oversight of the banking sector. Clearly, these Dogs are having their day.

However, as individuals, the Blue Dogs got the plurality of their 2009 campaign contributions from a traditional Democratic ally: organized labor.

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Comments

[tedkuhn]

01:53 PM on 07/29/2009

We need to select a few of these blue dogs who are up for re-election in 2010 and fund independent or third party candidates to run against them, being fully aware that the result will most likely be the republican winning. Still that's an improvement over a snake in the grass that you don't see till it bites you.

Go down the list and see who won by only a few percentage points in 2008 (or in the case of senators 2004).
The loss of a few in the house won't mean much and even in the senate we could lose two or three (since they don't vote like democrats anyway).

Maybe it will scare so of the others into listening to the voters and not the corporations.

[biabouman41]

09:38 PM on 07/26/2009

It is amazing that these blue dog Democrats and their Republican allies are just raking in the money and ignoring our pleas to do health care reform now. (Note that I did not say "promptly because that expired 60years ago).
We the voters and citizens of the USA can no longer just ignore these people who thumb their noses at us and the Justice Department. I am sure there will be major fraud where these representatives are accepting monies and making pledges to do the bidding of the insurance companies. I know that it is sometimes difficult for the prosecutors to get all of the facts on these people but juries understand the cloak and dagger nature of "pay to play" Washington. There are also enough industry executives and functionaries whose conscience bother them and will turn States witness. Bring these cases and let us judge.

[AfricanMan]

10:17 AM on 07/24/2009

How much divisiveness is necessary?

[jalowe1957]

02:23 AM on 07/24/2009

Blue Dog Democrats could ruin Iams...but then, life's (supposedly) better on Iams.

[toxicbrainpoison]

12:04 AM on 07/24/2009

blue dog dems... more corrupt than ever. they are even teachin repubs how its done.

[sueinmn]

11:40 PM on 07/23/2009

Do we have ANY liberals on any important committees? Seems they all come from red states. Whats wrong with this picture?

[FogBelter]

11:29 PM on 07/23/2009

If anyone ever wanted to know what corruption in the United States looks like ... this is it.

[BlueOnBlue]

08:33 PM on 07/23/2009

Call them by their correct name...

BLUE CROSS DEMS.

After all, they're earning the name.

[GolfingDevil05]

11:04 PM on 07/23/2009

To call them Blue Dogs disparages canines. A real dog shows loyalty, but these ones don't seem to have any to anyone but themselves.

[norgotoad]

08:09 PM on 07/23/2009

And where, or where is Pelosi? Oh she's lining up at Blue Cross. Oh... OK. Never mind.

[OswegoKayaker]

07:57 PM on 07/23/2009

Maybe these Blue Dogs need us to be pit bulls and get into the cage with them -- time to take a chomp out of their easy life and get them back to being Democrats instead of semi-republicans. Time to send a message. I just wrote to them telling them we won't forget that they sold us out and hope that someone they love, who doesn't get their over-the-top health benefits, need healthcare they can't afford.

[e-mail]

[sueinmn]

12:02 AM on 07/24/2009

Ive written the AFL CIO about the MN Collin Peterson. He always votes the republican way. He needs targeting big time for replacement. Ive written numerous time before about this guy and hopefully they will begin to watch how he votes and run another candidate!

[sueinmn]

12:13 AM on 07/24/2009

I just sent a letter to the MN member Blue dog. I also sent a letter to the MN AFL CIO.

[mendocoaster]

07:42 PM on 07/23/2009

Here is a list of Blue Dogs who are Energy and Commerce committee members:

John Barrow GA12 202-225-2823 @repjohnbarrow
Bart Gordon TN06 202-225-4231
Baron Hill IN09 202-225-5315
Jim Matheson UT02 202-225-3011
Charlie Melancon LA03 202-225-4031
Mike Ross AR04 202-225-3772
Zachary Space OH18 202-225-6265

This is where the bill is being held up so that it is unable to move to the floor for a vote in the House. This is not just a Senate thing.

[mlmn08]

09:31 PM on 07/23/2009

Thanks for listing these weasels holding up America.

[RaderBarbarian]

09:52 PM on 07/23/2009

Hmmm, all seven are Caucasian men - why, just like almost all Republicans! Why am I not surprised by this? And what is organized labor going to do about it? And when?

[bosse]

08:21 PM on 07/24/2009

Blue or black these are not real Democrats. Democrats stand for helping people who are in need. They get elected to do good for all people., and do not depend on rich Doctors and drug companies, for victory. So please gentlemen, blue red or yellow you are doing great disservice to people at large. Give up your medical coverage which are paid by good citizens of America, until you find a way to good decent medical care, to all of us.Dont blame lawyers and malpractice problems for increased cost and unnecessary MR I s and CT scans. they also amke money for doctors and businessmen,. Hospitals should be run as non profit, administartotrs salaries should be brought under severe scrutiny.All wars and foreign interventions should bestopped until all are given proper Medical car.

[str8fwd]

07:40 PM on 07/23/2009

LIST OF "BLUE DOG" DEMOCRATIC SENATORS

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
Web contact: http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=iss...
Phone: [phone]

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Web contact: http://bayh.senate.gov/contact/email /
Phone: [phone]

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Web contact: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact /
Phone: [phone]

Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)
Web contact: http://carper.senate.gov/contact /
Phone: [phone]

Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Web contact: http://conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm
Phone: [phone]

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Web contact: http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction...
Phone: [phone]

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Web contact: http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
Phone: [phone]

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
Web contact: http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact /
Phone: [phone]

Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Web contact: http://lincoln.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
Phone: [phone]

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Web contact: http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
Phone: [phone]

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Web contact: http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact-me.cfm
Phone: [phone]

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)
Web contact: http://pryor.senate.gov/contact /
Phone: [phone]

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Web contact: http://wyden.senate.gov/contact /
Phone: [phone]

[mlmn08]

09:46 PM on 07/23/2009

Thank you for this list...please contact as many as possible. Thank you.

[lthuedk 1]

07:15 PM on 07/23/2009

A public option should be called the Republic Option.

It's important to know where you live and know that our Republic's future is on the line right now. Congressional Capitulation to Corporate in the face of the 76% wanting a public option will be the first shot fired, not across our nation's bow, but through it.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/cut_n_run.html

Typical fascists.

[Gidster]

08:04 PM on 07/23/2009

Well put!

Co-sign!

[sunny64]

06:57 PM on 07/23/2009

List: Blue Dog Democrats
Sold Americans right to affordable healthcare for personal financial and political gains.
Altmire, Jason (PA-04)
Arcuri, Mike (NY-24)
Baca, Joe (CA-43)
Barrow, John (GA-12)
Berry, Marion (AR-01)
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02)
Boren, Dan (OK-02)
Boswell, Leonard (IA-03)
Boyd, Allen (FL-02)
Bright, Bobby (AL-02)
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18)
Carney, Christopher (PA-10)
Chandler, Ben (KY-06)
Childers, Travis (MS-01)
Cooper, Jim (TN-05)
Costa, Jim (CA-20)
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28)
Davis, Lincoln (TN-04)
Donnelly, Joe (IN-02)
Ellsworth, Brad (IN-08)
Giffords, Gabrielle (AZ-08)
Gordon, Bart (TN-06)
Griffith, Parker (AL-05)
Harman,Jane(CA-36)**$7.7 million
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie (SD)
Hill, Baron (IN-09)
Holden, Tim (PA-17)
Kratovil, Jr., Frank (MD-01)
McIntyre, Mike (NC-07)
Marshall, Jim (GA-03)
Matheson, Jim (UT-02)
Melancon,Charlie(LA-03)**$17,000
Michaud, Mike (ME-02)
Minnick, Walt (ID-01)
Mitchell, Harry (AZ-05)
Moore, Dennis (KS-03)
Murphy, Patrick (PA-08)
Nye, Glenn (VA-02)
Peterson, Collin (MN-07)
Pomeroy, Earl (ND)
Ross, Mike (AR-04)
Salazar, John (CO-03)
Sanchez, Loretta (CA-47)
Schiff, Adam (CA-29)
Scott, David (GA-13)
Shuler, Heath(NC-11)
Space,Zack (OH-18)
Tanner,John(TN-08)**$15,000
Taylor, Gene (MS-04)
Thompson, Mike(CA-01)**$95,000
Wilson,Charles(OH-06)
**Represent personal investments in stocks of the healthcare industry["Financial Disclosures," LegiStorm, WaPo,06/13/09]in addition to campaign contributions to their PAC's.
Website: http://www.house.gov/melancon/BlueDogs
make sure bluedogs is capitalized.

[lthuedk 1]

07:24 PM on 07/23/2009

I am disappointed Congresswoman Sanchez. We need to talk. You need to clarify.

You've got my email.

Or, you might just write back right here for convenience.

Respectfully yours,

Pitt

[norgotoad]

07:32 PM on 07/23/2009

Wow! Great job of researching this out. Thanks!

[Kassandra]

06:51 PM on 07/23/2009

Sounds like we need to get up to Mt Olympus with a sponge mop and some lye and clean the place up.