By JOSH ISRAEL & AARON MEHTA - CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY | 12/7/10 4:33 AM EST Updated: 12/7/10 8:50 AM EST
In mid-2009, the 52 conservative House Democrats who then made up the Blue Dog Coalition were at the height of their power. They were widely viewed as political kingmakers, and money started rolling in. Most of the contributions came from the health care, energy and financial services industries . . .
But a new Center for Public Integrity analysis shows that many of these budding relationships were short-lived. Fifty eight of those PACs also decided to donate to individual opponents of Blue Dog Coalition members, mostly after May 2010. this resulted from a series of votes on reform legislation affecting the three key sectors that had backed the Blue Dogs so enthusiastically.
Ten of those 58 committees, which had given not just to the Blue Dog PAC but to individual Blue Dogs, ultimately stopped giving to the PAC entirely and supported opponents of those Blue Dogs.
Of the 16 PACs that had made the maximum legal contributions to the Blue Dog PAC in 2007, 2008 and 2009 declined to donate anything to the Blue Dog PAC this year . . .
A Dog’s Best Friend?
Despite Democrats’ large majority in the 111th Congress, the Democratic leadership needed at least some of the 52 Blue Dog members to pass any legislation. This gave the Blue Dog coalition significant leverage in shaping the final versions of bills . . .
When they Blue Dogs stood together, they could veto most measures. That power translated into significant interest — and campaign cash — from a variety of private-sector industries.
The business community realizes that [the Blue Dogs] are the linchpin,” former Blue Dog Rep. Mike Parker of Mississippi told the Center in 2009. And, he predicted, they would “become much more so as time goes on.
That hasn’t happened.
The Republicans recovered many of the Blue Dog congressional seats which diminished the power of these conservative Democrats.
Was this a big loss to the Democratic party? Rightardia isn't sure, but we don't miss Blanche Lincoln. Good riddance!
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The Blue Dogs: No longer a PAC pet
In mid-2009, the 52 conservative House Democrats who then made up the Blue Dog Coalition were at the height of their power. They were widely viewed as political kingmakers, and money started rolling in. Most of the contributions came from the health care, energy and financial services industries . . .
But a new Center for Public Integrity analysis shows that many of these budding relationships were short-lived. Fifty eight of those PACs also decided to donate to individual opponents of Blue Dog Coalition members, mostly after May 2010. this resulted from a series of votes on reform legislation affecting the three key sectors that had backed the Blue Dogs so enthusiastically.
Ten of those 58 committees, which had given not just to the Blue Dog PAC but to individual Blue Dogs, ultimately stopped giving to the PAC entirely and supported opponents of those Blue Dogs.
Of the 16 PACs that had made the maximum legal contributions to the Blue Dog PAC in 2007, 2008 and 2009 declined to donate anything to the Blue Dog PAC this year . . .
A Dog’s Best Friend?
Despite Democrats’ large majority in the 111th Congress, the Democratic leadership needed at least some of the 52 Blue Dog members to pass any legislation. This gave the Blue Dog coalition significant leverage in shaping the final versions of bills . . .
When they Blue Dogs stood together, they could veto most measures. That power translated into significant interest — and campaign cash — from a variety of private-sector industries.
The business community realizes that [the Blue Dogs] are the linchpin,” former Blue Dog Rep. Mike Parker of Mississippi told the Center in 2009. And, he predicted, they would “become much more so as time goes on.
That hasn’t happened.
The Republicans recovered many of the Blue Dog congressional seats which diminished the power of these conservative Democrats.
Was this a big loss to the Democratic party? Rightardia isn't sure, but we don't miss Blanche Lincoln. Good riddance!
Subscribe to the Rightardia feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/UFPYA
