LAC News
Blue Dog Democrats: Not All on Pelosi's Leash
By Lindsey Douthit
September 2009

In the midst of the health care reform debate, “blue dog” Democrats (fiscally and/or socially conservative Democrats) are proving a formidable force of resistance to their leadership.  Many have aligned with their Republican counterparts to oppose the massive health care reform package that Obama, Pelosi, and liberal Democrats in Congress are trying to quickly push through. 

On June 25, 2009, a group of twenty “blue dogs” sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) stating that they would not support any health care reform proposal unless abortion was explicitly excluded.  Concerned Women for America (CWA) sent letters of appreciation to those Democrats, commending them on their stance for life amidst great pressure from their own leadership in the House and encouraging them to stay strong in their resistance to health care legislation that would allocate taxpayer funds to abortion.

Three of the twenty “blue dogs” who sent the letter to Pelosi, Representatives Charlie Melancon (D-Louisiana), Bart Stupak (D-Michigan), and Mike Doyle (D-Pennsylvania), hold seats on the House Energy and Commerce committee.  This committee marked up the H.R. 3200 bill, or what is commonly known as the health care reform bill.  Within the committee meetings, several pro-life amendments were introduced in committee but then ultimately failed along party lines.  For instance, Representative Stupak, along with Republican Representatives Joe Pitts (R-Pennsylvania) and Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), offered amendments to prevent taxpayer subsidies for abortions and to prohibit abortion mandates in government health insurance plans.

Sadly, not all of the “blue dogs” on the Energy and Commerce committee held firm.  Although Representative Doyle signed the pro-life letter at the last minute, he voted against Representative Stupak’s pro-life amendments and then voted for the House health care bill.  Thankfully, Representatives Melancon and Stupak kept their word and voted for the pro-life amendments and against the health care legislation.

CWA subsequently sent letters thanking Representatives Stupak and Melancon for voting for pro-life amendments and for voting against the health care bill in the Energy and Commerce committee.  A letter was also sent to those who voted against the amendments and who voted for H.R. 3200 expressing CWA’s disappointment that they did not vote to protect life and chose to support a health care bill that most Americans do not want.

The “blue dogs” in the House continue to face immense pressure from the rest of their party and need encouragement to continue to oppose the health care bill and not strike harmful compromises.

The 19 “blue dogs” who signed the pro-life letter, voted for pro-life amendments, and voted against the health care bill are:

Bobby Bright (D-Alabama)

Jerry Costello (D-Illinois)

Charlie Melancon (D-Louisiana)

Bart Stupak (D-Michigan)

James Oberstar (D-Minnesota)

Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota)

Travis Childers (D-Mississippi)

Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi)

Mike McIntyre (D-North Carolina)

Heath Shuler (D-North Carolina)

Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio)

Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio)

Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma)

Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-Pennsylvania)

Tim Holden (D-Pennsylvania)

Paul Kanjorski (D-Pennsylvania)

John Murtha (D-Pennsylvania)

Lincoln Davis (D-Tennessee)