Moderate House Republicans, Dems may form 'Tuesday Dogs' coalition RAW STORY
Published: Thursday November 16, 2006 Print This Email This Moderate House Republicans and Democrats may form a coalition, according to a Capitol Hill newspaper.
"In an effort to boost their influence in the sharply divided chamber, members of the moderate Republican and Democratic House factions indicated Wednesday that the two groups may coordinate efforts in the 110th Congress and could move to create a formal bipartisan coalition in the new session," Jennifer Yachnin and Susan Davis report for Roll Call.
"Members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition and the centrist Republican Tuesday Group met in advance of the Nov. 7 elections, Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) said Wednesday, to discuss areas where the groups could align," the article continues.
"We have a lot of common interests," Matheson told Roll Call after his meeting with Republican Rep. Mark Kirk (Ill.), co-chair of the GOP Tuesday Group.
Excerpts from article:
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According to Matheson, the moderate coalitions are most likely to work together on pro-growth and fiscal legislation, while Kirk cited issues such as expanding stem-cell research and portions of the “Suburban Agenda,” an effort spearheaded by Kirk that includes legislation to stop online sexual predators and improve access to health care.
“At this point, we’re starting a dialogue,” Kirk said in an interview Wednesday, adding that the recent influx of new moderate Democrats elected last Tuesday will bolster opportunities to govern “from the political center.”
Kirk said the two groups will hold a luncheon to swap legislative agendas when Congress returns the week of Dec. 4. There they will discuss the possible creation of a new bipartisan caucus that Kirk dubbed the “Tuesday Dogs.”
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