I kind of understand what Evan Bayh is trying to do. Despite being in the Senate for a full ten years, and in spite of serving on six full committees, he ranks no higher than fourth on any of them. He does hold two significant gavels: as chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support and the Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment. But, the bottom line is that Bayh is stuck as a relative bankbencher in the Senate with far below the level of institutional clout he should have acquired by now. He’s up for reelection in two years and he wants to show that he’s a player that is doing something for his home state. I don’t begrudge him that.
But Bayh did two things today that annoy me. First, he put together a meeting of Democratic ‘moderates’ that are concerned about all the spending going on in Washington.
A group of 14 Senate Democrats and one independent huddled behind closed doors on Tuesday, discussing how centrists in that chamber can assert more leverage on the major policy debates that will dominate this Congress.
Afterward, some in attendance made plain that they are getting jitters over the cost and expansive reach of Obama’s $3.6 trillion budget proposal.
Then Bayh cast a vote in favor of John McCain’s amendment to the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
The Senate just defeated an amendment, 63 to 32, by Senator John McCain that would have maintained federal agency spending at last year’s levels and deprived lawmakers of nearly 9,000 in earmarks.
Sen. Clair McCaskill, who is a member of Bayh’s Gang of 15, also voted for McCain’s amendment, but at least she is consistent: she is one of only five senators to request no earmarks in the Appropriations Omnibus bill. That’s not something Bayh can claim.
From Bayh’s own previous remarks, it’s clear that he sees his Gang of 15 as a Senate version of the House’s Blue Dog Coalition.
Roll Call reported last night that Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) intends to form a group of “moderate” Democratic senators based “loosely on the House Blue Dog Coalition. “
“I think we have a wonderful opportunity to break the gridlock that has existed in Washington for too long,” Bayh said in an interview. “We need to do that in practical ways that will solve problems. The place that will be most important in striking that right balance will be in the Senate.”
Bayh, who has spoken with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) about his initiative, said he is trying to create a faction of moderate Senators who will gather on a weekly basis ahead of the usual Tuesday Democratic Caucus meetings.
Additionally, Bayh envisions inviting outside speakers to address the group, which would also work in concert with third parties that have similar viewpoints, like the Third Way, a nonpartisan progressive think tank.
I would not describe the Third Way as a progressive think tank. They do some decent work, but they’re mainly representative of the following sentiment:
Sen. Evan Bayh, the Indiana Democrat who assembled Tuesday’s skull session, added that he was “very concerned” about Washington’s level of spending, especially in a $410 billion “omnibus” spending bill to fund the government until the start of a new fiscal year in October.
As for the tax increases on high-income earners called for in Obama’s plan, Bayh said, “I do think that before we raise revenue, we first should look to see if there are ways we can cut back on spending.”
“The American people and businesses are tightening their belts,” Bayh added. “I think we need to show that the government can economize as well.”
Obama is spending money like a drunken sailor because the economy is in a global death spiral, and Evan Bayh still is complaining about raising any revenue through taxes, even when those taxes are going to come from individuals that make over $250,000 in taxable income and even though that rate is the same as what prevailed during the Clinton administration, and even though the tax hike will not take effect for two more years. And he pretends to be a budget hawk!!
Maybe Bayh really has some principles. But, if so, he’s just stupid and can’t do arithmetic. It’s far more likely that he wants to organize a group of backbenchers to increase their relative power by threatening to block or water down Obama’s agenda. Look at the membership of Bayh’s Blue Dog coalition.
Sens. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Warner of Virginia, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Bill Nelson of Florida, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Robert P. Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania, Blanche L. Lincoln of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, as well as Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.).
Two members remain unidentified in the article. Of this list, only Lieberman has the chairmanship of a full committee. Begich, Shaheen, and Warner are freshmen, and Klobuchar, Casey, and McCaskill are sophomores. This is just a power play to extort some goodies and increase this backbenching group’s power. And I can understand it, but I also find it annoying as hell.
Also available in orange.
There’s a good way for Obama to frame his tax hikes on the rich:
“Let’s go back to the same tax rate on high incomes as we had during the Reagan administration.”
* It was 50%.
Not quite true – I think they had dropped to 35% by the end of his term.
I understand why Bayh is doing it, but the more depressing thing is he’s openly defying a President with a majority of Americans backing both him and his policies right now. Clearly Bayh is playing for 2010. He doesn’t think Obama will be nearly as popular next year.
In fact, he and his Gang of 15 are counting on it. How much watering down will Obama have to do to secure their support? They saw what Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and Arlen Specter got, and they want it too.
I’ve never liked Bayh. I’ve never felt he was a true Democrat. His father was wonderful. He is not his father!!!
If they want to cut spending, give them the defense budget and tell them to start hacking away. Start with missile defense and go down the list.
I concur; the defense dept is a great place to start next to that super stupid, Ronnie Raygun fiasco of a star wars defense. If Bayh were on a sinking Titanic, he would probably ask for a re-booking. Notice Lieberman moving to a position in that ill starred group. My gut feeling is he will yet prove a curse to Obama and the Republic.
No doubt.
If these “moderate” senators were so concerned about this bill, then they would deal with the bill instead of crying to or about Obama. They are there writing/debating/voting on the bill, are they not?
Anyway, I don’t get worked up into a lather on earmarks. Really–I’m gonna cry over $3.8 billion in a $410 billion spending bill? Miss me on that. Given the cost of the war(s), contracting, etc., crying about earmarks is just more bitter Drama King posturing.
Be careful what you wish for Evan. In looking to grab some attention, which is what he’s doing, Lieberman will work his insanity into the group’s thinking, he always does.
I’m ok with reviewing cost savings and in that light McCaskill will bring reason to the group but in the larger picture this is like a customer of mine who fought the toll booth operator at the local gravel pit over a $500 useage fee, and lost his contract for $300,000 with the County. Time was up, County had to move on.
The biggest danger in the abject defeat of Republicans is the very predictable split of the ruling party. If there is a large enough faction that thinks it can split off the middle from the progressives, someone will be self-indulgent enough to try and do it. Enter the Senator(s).
Serious question: How long before David Broder writes a fawning column lauding Evan Bayh’s efforts?
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
I, for one, couldn’t be happier. Even Bayh is stepping up to the plate, and taking these people with him. Add these Democrats, and Independent Lieberman to the moderate Republicans, (Collins, Snowe, Specter, and maybe throw in a Mc.Cain every once in a while), and both the liberals and conservatives will cry in their milk. The rise of the moderates in the Senate will no doubt give Obama heartburn in the next few months. Get used to the fact that if the Democrats want things to go through, these moderates will play a huge role in getting things done. We will no longer be ignored. Harry Reid and Mitch Mc.Connell are being put on notice. Deal with the moderates, or sink or swim by yourself.
The moderates lost credibility with me when they were taking out the most effective parts of the stimulus bill. That’s when I realize that they are a bunch of idiots. Since these people were the same ones who voted for Iraq, it it no mystery that they act the way they act.
Part of a Message I just left at her local office:
“…I don’t understand why she is in this group. If these proposals get watered down it will make things worse and hurt the people of Minnesota economically. She really needs to explain why she is doing this because if Senator Klobuchar thinks that tamping down spending now will boost the economy more than spending in the next few years then I think she’s incredibly mistaken!”
Spoken in tones of shocked disbelief that she would be in the program.