House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer praises "Blue Dogs" spending caps and other budget cutting ideas

"Blue Dog" Democrats outline fiscal agenda
by Andy Sullivan
January 25, 2010

Conservative-leaning Democrats in the House of Representatives plan to push spending caps and other deficit-cutting measures ahead of the November elections, one of the group's leaders told Reuters on Monday.

Their proposals were outlined shortly before President Barack Obama is expected to emphasize deficit reduction in his State of the Union speech on Wednesday.

The Blue Dogs' plan, provided to Reuters, aims to balance the budget within 10 years and stabilize the national debt at a ratio of 60 percent of gross domestic product, which many experts consider sustainable.

Though the 54 centrist members of the Blue Dog Coalition are outnumbered by liberals in the House, their agenda could play a large role this year as nervous Democrats try to position themselves as responsible stewards of taxpayer money.

The Blue Dog plan drew praise from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a frequent ally on fiscal issues.

"The initiatives included in their plan are a welcome addition to the conversation as Democrats remain focused this year on bringing down the deficit," Hoyer said in a statement.

Read the full article at:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN25202038

How about being focused on bringing down unemployment and foreclosures?