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House Democrats passed the 2,032-page Pelosicare bill on a near party-line vote Saturday night 220-215 (roll call here). The only Republican voting in favor of the measure was New Orleans-based Joseph Cao who has long ago proven to be a tax and spend (and spend and spend) liberal. After a week of intense arm twisting, threats and promises from party leaders, more than half of the 52 so-called conservative Blue Dog Democrats voted in favor of the over $1.3 trillion measure. These are the 28 Blue Dogs voting in favor of Pelosicare (who apparently fear the wrath of House Speaker...

U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye announced Saturday that he will vote no on the House health care reform bill. He cited costs to small businesses and cuts to hospitals as primary reasons the bill will not get his support. Though he says the latest version of the bill does achieve many health care reform goals, he believes it will not reduce the cost of health care for families, taxpayers and small businesses. A provision in the bill that Nye believes could lead to nearly $20 million in cuts for the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) was also grounds for...

Blue Dog Democrats face a dilemma this weekend: Should they oppose legislation they believe is flawed, or move the bill out of the House in the hopes of it changing in conference? That core question was on the minds of many of the 52 fiscally conservative Democrats after a meeting Tuesday with Douglas Elmendorf, the director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), to get an in-person explanation of the differences between the House and Senate healthcare bills. The number of Blue Dogs leaning toward or committed to “no” votes could be in the 30s, according to members, although Blue Dog...

But if people have a choice to keep their current policy or select Medicare, all other things being the same, nobody would take Medicare except those who have no insurance, and, voila, everybody is covered. The big caveat, of course, is whether all other things like taxes on employer benefits stays the same. While I would not favor a massive expansion of Medicare, it forces the Dems to explain why this proposal doesn't provide choice and competition, while insuring everybody.

Seven House Democrats have written Attorney General Eric Holder invoking a list of grievances from radical Islamist groups and asking that Holder meet with representatives from those groups to hear their concerns, the Investigative Project on Terrorism has learned. The grievances include the use of convicted felons as informants in mosques, alleged religious profiling of Somali Muslims in Minnesota and elsewhere and allegations that the FBI is working with foreign governments to question American citizens who are terror suspects. In the letter, the representatives said: "These concerns raise legitimate questions about due process, justice, and equal treatment under the law....

Rep. Loretta Sanchez Among Lawmakers In Spotlight For Taxpayer-Funded Trips The Garden Grove congresswoman has made 20 overseas excursions since 2006, touching down on every continent. Critics say more transparency is needed on government-sponsored travel. By Richard Simon September 13, 2009 Reporting from Washington - At a time when congressional travel is coming under new scrutiny, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) has the distinction of taking more trips at taxpayer expense than anyone else in the California delegation. In the last 3 1/2 years, she visited the South Pole, snorkeled at Australia's Great Barrier Reef and joined world leaders at...

Did the August town hall protests have an effect on Congress? Enough so that at least one Blue Dog Democrat admitted it convinced him to oppose the public option in the health-care overhaul bill. Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) announced his opposition this morning, crediting his constituents for his moment of clarification: Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), the Blue Dog congressman who battled with Democratic Party leaders for much of July before reaching an agreement on health-care reform legislation, said Tuesday that he could no longer back the government-insurance option included in the bill he voted for before the congressional recess. “I...

Here is video of GOP Chairman Michael Steele in Ohio where he said so-called "Blue-Dog" Democrats like to "pretend to be a conservative Blue Dog here at home, then go to Washington and sit on Nancy Pelosi's lap." Steele was speaking at a Zanesville, Ohio auto dealership, and spoke in three districts where Democrats could be in trouble. In response, the Ohio Democratic Party Chairman said Steele is the Republican version of a "bad joke." (VIDEO)

Little Rock - U.S. Rep. Mike Ross says he believes some overhaul of the nation's health care system will be achieved this year, but doubts it will include a government-run option. Ross told students at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service on Monday that he doubts liberals or conservatives will be completely pleased with whatever health reforms are achieved. Ross also told students that he thinks House leaders have focused too much on covering the uninsured as a goal of the health reform overhaul pushed by President Barack Obama. Ross said the focus should also be on...

Baron Hill, a Blue Dog Democrat from Indiana, just announced he will be holding a Town Hall meeting on Healthcare at Indiana University Southeast on Monday 8/31. It will take place in the Hooiser Room at 6:30. Lets get a big FReeper contingent there to greet him.

Louisiana congressman Charlie Melancon, the only Democrat in the state’s seven-seat House delegation, announced today that he’s challenging Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). "Today, I'm announcing my candidacy for the US Senate to replace David Vitter because Louisiana deserves better. Louisiana needs a different approach. More bi-partisan. More disciplined. More honest and with a whole lot more common sense," Melancon said in a videotaped statement sent to supporters. "Because no matter if you are in Mamou or Monroe, it's not whether it's a Republican idea or a Democratic idea - the only question is: does it make sense for Louisiana?" Melancon,...

Just got a robocall from his office this evening (Aug 24)...... Altmire Invites Constituents to Town Hall Meeting on Health Care Reform on August 26 August 18, 2009(???) (PITTSBURGH, PA) -- Today, U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) announced that he will hold a town hall meeting on health care reform in Farrell on Wednesday, August 26 at 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the auditorium at Farrell Area High School, located at 1600 Roemer Boulevard in Farrell, PA. Doors will open at 4 pm. If anyone knows applicable town meeting sites could you please post this there. BTW,...

The WH and Congress have severely overestimated the charm of President Obama. They believe that when the President speaks the public all feel a tingle running up their legs... The public is smarter than for which the bureaucrats in Washington give them credit… In the old days, when Americans took civics, and took civic life seriously, every schoolboy/schoolgirl knew what a yellow dog was. The phrase, which almost certainly came from Alabama more than three-quarters of a century ago, grew out of the notion that some Southerners would (gladly) vote for a yellow dog if he ran on the Democratic...

NORFOLK It actually happened Wednesday: a civil, bipartisan discourse on health care. Two local members of Congress - a Democrat and a Republican - sat side by side, politely offering broad principles and predictions. They emphasized common ground and dodged any opening to snipe at the other party. The crowd of nearly 100 submitted questions, most in writing, that were sober, substantive. No outbursts, no tirades. "This is how it ought to be," one of the participants, Democratic Rep. Glenn Nye, said afterward. Nye and Rep. Rob Wittman, a Republican, spoke Wednesday morning before a gathering of the Eastern Virginia...

St. Paul, Minn. — President Obama and U.S. Senate Democrats say they're "united" on the goal of overhauling the nation's health insurance system. But when it comes to hammering out the actual legislation, the party has been far from unified. The House adjourned last week after its health reform bill cleared a key committee by a slim, three-vote margin. Five of the Democrats on that committee sided with Republicans and voted "no." The full House is expected to vote on the measure in September. And a key voting bloc will be the "Blue Dog" Democrats -- 52 moderate and conservative...

Residents of the 8th District who wish to participate in the telephone town hall meetings on Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. and Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. can sign up online or by calling Congressman Tanner’s office. Registered participants will receive a phone call when the meeting is beginning with simple instructions on how to listen, ask questions and leave messages.

SEIU union workers delivered a pro-healthcare bill petition to Bluedog Congressman John Tanner's office in Union City, TN. Upon arrival, the union workers were greeted by the staff and were told by staff members that they "couldn't imagine Congressman Tanner voting against the Healthcare Bill." It is also revealed in the video that Congressman Tanner's Chief of Staff is responsible for a lot of language in the bill itself. It's time to target Congressman John Tanner of Tennessee's 8th Congressional district. He is also one of the leaders of the Bluedog coalition in Congress.

Four fiscally conservative Democrats, who voted in committee to back President Obama's health care plan, are now facing a fresh round of attacks from the Republican National Committee. The self described "Blue Dog Democrats" — Reps. Bart Gordon of Tennessee, Zack Space of Ohio, Baron Hill of Indiana, and Mike Ross of Arkansas – are targeted in a new 60-second radio campaign that slams them for voting for the health care proposal in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

This month, Congressmen across America will be engaging in “town hall” meetings with their constituents. The most nervous Congressmen are the 52 members of the “Blue Dog” caucus, who will have to answer some tough questions on where they stand on Nancy Pelosi’s plan for the government to control health care, raise our taxes, increase spending, and put America further in debt...

Democracy can be a dangerous thing … for incumbents who pass bad policy, or even attempt to defend it. Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit and Doug Ross have the latest evidence of this, a town-hall meeting on ObamaCare in Ohio’s 1st CD, represented by Democrat Steve Dreihaus. In this case, Dreihaus has even more to explain after winning his seat on a claim of fiscal conservatism, as Dreihaus also voted for cap-and-trade, which will make Ohio’s coal industry vanish along with hiking energy costs on his constituents. Yesterday, though, ObamaCare made them angry enough: