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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe "Moderate 9" in the House need to suck it up and get with Biden's program
There is nothing "moderate" in bucking both President Biden's and Speaker Pelosi's legislative agenda.
If centrists like the President and the Speaker are too "far left" for these self described "moderates" in the House, perhaps they really need to think long and hard what we Democrats need to accomplish to both govern effectively and, importantly, to get re-elected in 2022 and in 2024.
In short, the "Moderate 9" all need to suck it up and get with the program.
Progressives like myself have. It's what we all should be doing as Democrats for the good of the country.
Pardon my subdued rage.
EDIT: To those that replied a deal was made this afternoon, that was only a first step towards drafting Biden's plan this fall.
After a turbulent 24 hours that brought House proceedings to a standstill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her colleagues before the vote that the legislation represents a federal investment on par with the New Deal and the Great Society.
Pelosi brushed aside the delays. Thats just part of the legislative process, she said, according to an aide granted anonymity to discuss a closed-door caucus meeting.
Tensions had flared as a band of moderate lawmakers threatened to withhold their votes for the $3.5 trillion plan. They were demanding the House first approve a nearly $1 trillion bipartisan package of other public works projects thats already passed the Senate.
In brokering the compromise, Pelosi committed to voting on the bipartisan package no later than Sept. 27, an attempt to assure lawmakers it won't be left on the sidelines. It's also in keeping with with Pelosi's insistence that the two bills move together as a more complete collection of Biden's priorities. Pelosi has set a goal of passing both by Oct. 1.
Easing off the stalemate will shelve, for now, the stark divisions between moderate and progressive lawmakers who make up the Democrats' so-slim House majority. But as the drama spilled out during what was supposed to be a quick session as lawmakers returned to work for a few days in August, it showcased the party differences that threaten to upend Biden's ambitious rebuilding agenda.
I fear that the "Moderate 9" will continue to raise objections and threaten the President's 3.5 trillion dollar rebuilding plan.
So, as I said, the "Moderate 9" need to get with the program and stop bucking Biden's proposal. The President was elected with 81 MILLION votes to implement his goals for the country, no nine so called "moderates" should be impeding that.
leftstreet
(36,107 posts)There is nothing moderate about them
ugh
questionseverything
(9,654 posts)They probably dont want these dems called corporate or conservative
Tomconroy
(7,611 posts)bluewater
(5,376 posts)After a turbulent 24 hours that brought House proceedings to a standstill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her colleagues before the vote that the legislation represents a federal investment on par with the New Deal and the Great Society.
Pelosi brushed aside the delays. Thats just part of the legislative process, she said, according to an aide granted anonymity to discuss a closed-door caucus meeting.
Tensions had flared as a band of moderate lawmakers threatened to withhold their votes for the $3.5 trillion plan. They were demanding the House first approve a nearly $1 trillion bipartisan package of other public works projects thats already passed the Senate.
In brokering the compromise, Pelosi committed to voting on the bipartisan package no later than Sept. 27, an attempt to assure lawmakers it won't be left on the sidelines. It's also in keeping with with Pelosi's insistence that the two bills move together as a more complete collection of Biden's priorities. Pelosi has set a goal of passing both by Oct. 1.
Easing off the stalemate will shelve, for now, the stark divisions between moderate and progressive lawmakers who make up the Democrats' so-slim House majority. But as the drama spilled out during what was supposed to be a quick session as lawmakers returned to work for a few days in August, it showcased the party differences that threaten to upend Biden's ambitious rebuilding agenda.
Tomconroy
(7,611 posts)bluewater
(5,376 posts)So true!
Again, the so called "Moderate 9" need to stop bucking President Biden's agenda.
mcar
(42,307 posts)bluewater
(5,376 posts)After a turbulent 24 hours that brought House proceedings to a standstill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her colleagues before the vote that the legislation represents a federal investment on par with the New Deal and the Great Society.
Pelosi brushed aside the delays. Thats just part of the legislative process, she said, according to an aide granted anonymity to discuss a closed-door caucus meeting.
Tensions had flared as a band of moderate lawmakers threatened to withhold their votes for the $3.5 trillion plan. They were demanding the House first approve a nearly $1 trillion bipartisan package of other public works projects thats already passed the Senate.
In brokering the compromise, Pelosi committed to voting on the bipartisan package no later than Sept. 27, an attempt to assure lawmakers it won't be left on the sidelines. It's also in keeping with with Pelosi's insistence that the two bills move together as a more complete collection of Biden's priorities. Pelosi has set a goal of passing both by Oct. 1.
Easing off the stalemate will shelve, for now, the stark divisions between moderate and progressive lawmakers who make up the Democrats' so-slim House majority. But as the drama spilled out during what was supposed to be a quick session as lawmakers returned to work for a few days in August, it showcased the party differences that threaten to upend Biden's ambitious rebuilding agenda.
bluedevil4
(305 posts)I thought it had passed
JustAnotherGen
(31,818 posts)Hours later, moderates still concerned that the pledge wasn't binding enough secured additional language in the rule stating that the House "shall consider" the bipartisan bill on Sept. 27 if it isn't voted upon before then.
The progressives need to understand -not everyone comes from a bright blue district like Omar or AOC or Tlaib. Some of us live in districts that were flipped from red in 2018 - and we know what it is going to take to maintain those seats next year.
"That doesn't mean everybody's euphoric, but it does mean that everybody has confidence that we're moving ahead on their priorities," he added.
Everyone isn't getting a pony. Nobody gets their way 100% of the time. And I know Gottheimer's district is much like mine - and we DO have interests at our kitchen table that the bright blue district progressives cannot even begin to comprehend. They don't have to. They are never going to have to fight a Republican for their seat.
bluewater
(5,376 posts)After a turbulent 24 hours that brought House proceedings to a standstill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her colleagues before the vote that the legislation represents a federal investment on par with the New Deal and the Great Society.
Pelosi brushed aside the delays. Thats just part of the legislative process, she said, according to an aide granted anonymity to discuss a closed-door caucus meeting.
Tensions had flared as a band of moderate lawmakers threatened to withhold their votes for the $3.5 trillion plan. They were demanding the House first approve a nearly $1 trillion bipartisan package of other public works projects thats already passed the Senate.
In brokering the compromise, Pelosi committed to voting on the bipartisan package no later than Sept. 27, an attempt to assure lawmakers it won't be left on the sidelines. It's also in keeping with with Pelosi's insistence that the two bills move together as a more complete collection of Biden's priorities. Pelosi has set a goal of passing both by Oct. 1.
Easing off the stalemate will shelve, for now, the stark divisions between moderate and progressive lawmakers who make up the Democrats' so-slim House majority. But as the drama spilled out during what was supposed to be a quick session as lawmakers returned to work for a few days in August, it showcased the party differences that threaten to upend Biden's ambitious rebuilding agenda.
totodeinhere
(13,058 posts)The legislative process is usually very frustratingly slow. That's just the way it is. But not only did President propose an ambitious program which I support, he has emphasized the need to listen to all points of view and to compromise. I have no problem with those so-called moderates staking out a position on this issue. More progressive members of the House have also taken positions from time to time which may contradict some specifics in Biden's proposal. I hope you are not saying that the progressives can campaign for their priorities while the moderates cannot. That would be contrary to the vision that President Biden ran on.
bluewater
(5,376 posts)If the "Moderate 9" are actually moderate, what are President Biden and Speaker Pelosi?
"Leftists"? Hardly.
At least the Progressives self-identify correctly.
Unlike the "Moderate 9", the vast majority of moderate Democrats in Congress are onboard with President Biden's proposals.
And you are correct, the Democratic Party is indeed a big tent. There are progressive, moderate and, gasp, conservative wings of the party.
But the thing is, President Biden and Speaker Pelosi are the quintessential moderates, and the so called "Moderate 9" have been out of step with their legislative goals.
Response to bluewater (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
eTXwLA
(44 posts)that the Democratic Party has always been a big tent party.
totodeinhere
(13,058 posts)House majority in the next election.
bluewater
(5,376 posts)Unlike the "Moderate 9".
Celerity
(43,339 posts)96 of that 210 number are members of the Progressive Caucus, making it the biggest single group in the Dem House caucus.
The big tent of our Party overwhelmingly favours Pelosi's and Biden's stances and bills, the 10 who are trying to manoeuvre things so they effectively have unchecked veto power over the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill (or whatever figure it ends up that is too big for them) are in the vast minority.
Celerity
(43,339 posts)She is one of the most moderately conservative Dems in the House Caucus (one of only 6 current Dems who had both substantial amounts of votes and who voted with Trump over 50% of the time in the 115th House, along with Henry Cuellar, Conor Lamb, (both of whom were close to 70% in terms of voting with Trump), Tom O'Halleran, and Josh Gottheimer, plus the 'now in the Senate' Sinema ).
Murphy is the chair of the Blue Dogs as well.
She is one of only 10 'trifecta' members, meaning she belongs to all 3 moderate/centrist/conservative Dem Caucuses:
Blue Dog Coalition
New Democrat Coalition
Problem Solvers Caucus
along with Carolyn Bourdeaux, Tom O'Halleran, Lou Correa, Jim Costa, Brad Schneider, Josh Gottheimer, Kurt Schrader, Vicente Gonzalez, and Abigail Spanberger.
Here the 10 moderates/centrists (Cuellar is a conservative on many things) in discussion about the 2 infrastructure bills, you can see the overlap with the above lists.
Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey
Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia
Filemon Vela of Texas
Jared Golden of Maine
Henry Cuellar of Texas
Vicente Gonzalez of Texas
Ed Case of Hawaii
Jim Costa of California
Kurt Schrader of Oregon
Stephanie Murphy of Florida
bluewater
(5,376 posts)Interesting and misleading.
The vast majority of moderate Democrats in Congress are onboard with President Biden's plans.
Celerity
(43,339 posts)A few have some cultural conservative stances, but Cuellar, now with Lipinski and Collin Peterson being defeated in 2020, laps the rest. Safe Blue district too (never in its history has it elected a Rethug) but the challengers to him lately have been too far left to beat him in the primary.