The Boehner Boys In Action-- Big Time

Steve Israel ready to fight... progressives

There were two bills that passed in the House Thursday that should help define what the next two years in that body are going to be like-- and presage the need to more clearly define what the Democratic Party stands for. Both bills were passed by the GOP with the help of a motley gaggle of right-wing Blue Dogs and other die-hard conservative Democrats, the remnants of the Boehner Boys (most of whom were beaten at the polls last November).

The first of the votes was to approve Robert Dold's H.Res 150, the FHA Refinance Program Termination Act which, if passed by the Senate and signed by President Obama, would rescind and permanently cancel all unexpended funding remaining available and allocated for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Refinancing Program of the Making Home Affordable initiative of the Secretary of the Treasury (under which borrowers owing more on their mortgage than the value of their home are provided opportunities to refinance into a FHA loan). It passed 256- 171. One Republican, Joe Heck, whose Nevada district has one of the worst housing crisis in the country, voted with the Democrats. But 18 of the most family-unfriendly conservative Democrats stuck with Boehner, as most of them have on almost all contested votes so far this year:

Jason Altmire (Blue Dog-PA)- 25.58
John Barrow (Blue Dog-GA)- 27.91
Dan Boren (Blue Dog-OK)- 16.28
Dennis Cardoza (Blue Dog-CA)- 33.33
John Carney (DE)- 55.81
Ben Chandler (Blue Dog-KY)- 34.88
Jim Cooper (Blue Dog-TN)- 51.16
Jim Costa (Blue Dog-CA)- 21.95
Henry Cuellar (Blue Dog-TX)- 27.91
Rick Larsen (WA)- 65.12
Dan Lipinski (IL)- 44.19
Jim Matheson (Blue Dog-UT)- 34.15
Bill Owens (NY)- 32.56
Collin Peterson (Blue Dog-MN)- 27.91
Mike Ross (Blue Dog-AR)- 20.93
Kurt Schrader (Blue Dog-OR)- 67.44
Heath Shuler (Blue Dog-NC)- 46.51
Tim Waltz (MN)- 51.16

The same day, Republicans and their Blue Dog allies voted for corporate shill Jeb Hensarling's Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act (H.Res. 151), which would rescind and permanently cancel all unobligated funding remaining available under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act for the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program. This one passed 242-177 with two Republicans-- Steven LaTourette (OH) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA) voting with the Democrats and 8 of the very worst Blue Dogs sticking with Boehner:

Jason Altmire (Blue Dog-PA)- 25.58
John Barrow (Blue Dog-GA)- 27.91
Dan Boren (Blue Dog-OK)- 16.28
Dennis Cardoza (Blue Dog-CA)- 33.33
Ben Chandler (Blue Dog-KY)- 34.88
Jim Costa (Blue Dog-CA)- 21.95
Tim Holden (Blue Dog-PA)- 30.23
Kurt Schrader (Blue Dog-OR)- 67.44

By the way, the bolded renegade Democrats are the ones who have been chosen by "ex"-Blue Dog Steve Israel, DCCC Chair, to get priority treatment-- the bulk of the contributions that come in to the DCCC. The number next to each name is their Progressive Punch Crucial Vote score for the current session. Note Dan Boren's 16.28, which is now lower than that of several dozen Republicans'! And you wonder why people are confused about the difference between the two parties?

Maybe you know that Blue America has a special Blue Dog page, dedicated to replacing them with real Democrats.


NOTE FROM KEN: Owing to technical difficulties, today's Sunday Classics post will appear at 2pm PT.

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