John Boehner isn't the only one getting tougher on Obama this week. A group of 49 moderate Democrats, facing tough reelection campaigns for 2010, are joining forces against elements of Obama's sweeping plans. They're wary of the omnibus spending bill, health care legislation, plans for cap-and-trade on carbon, and even tax hikes on the rich:
Democratic Reps. Jim Matheson of Utah and Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona have joined a quiet revolt in the House that could slow some of President Obama's fast-moving priorities.
The two are among 49 Democrats from congressional districts that backed Republican Sen. John McCain 's 2008 presidential race and whose support for the Democratic majority's progressive agenda is increasingly not assured.
A dozen of them were among 20 House Democrats who voted against the $410 billion discretionary fiscal 2009 spending package (HR 1105) on Feb. 25. Another group later forced House leaders to sideline a contentious bill (HR 1106) to allow bankruptcy judges to modify home loans.
Although only a handful of moderate and conservative Democrats abandoned their leaders during party-line votes on the economic stimulus law (PL 111-5), the group of vulnerable Democrats branded the omnibus spending bill as a budget buster and questioned whether the mortgage bill would raise interest rates on average home-owners and cause some struggling homeowners to rush to bankruptcy.
In this group, even soaking the rich is a hard sell:
Many of the 49 Democrats in the group have particular concerns about Obama's call for allowing the Bush-era tax cuts for wealthy families to expire.
"I don't agree with the administration about letting all those tax cuts expire for upper-income families," said Harry E. Mitchell , D-Ariz. He argues for retaining the current 15 percent rate on capital gains and for permanent reductions in the estate tax.
The story is the same in the Senate, where Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) gathered a group of 15 to talk about ways they can force some of the "tough choices" Obama refuses to make:
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.
Asked when he'd reach his breaking point, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, said: "Right now. I'm concerned about the amount that's being offered in [Obama's] budget."
Another attendee, Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), said she expected the newly formed caucus to shape Obama's budget proposal as it moves through Congress.
Even some liberal Democrats are up in arms about the administration's plan to limit charitable deductions during a time when many charities are already struggling:
"I don't want to prejudge anything, but it is certainly one that I am having difficulties with," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
On Tuesday, Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said he, too, had reservations about the proposal.
"I would never want to adversely affect anything that is charitable or good," the New York Democrat said.
It's too bad Charlie Rangel is so hung up on divisive, partisan obstruction.
