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The Blue Dog Coalition formed in 1995, following the sweeping Republican victories in Congress. The founding Members chose the name Blue Dog Coalition
because they literally felt “choked blue by the extremes in both
parties." Currently, there are 25 members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the 112th Congress.
Mike has been a proud member of the Blue Dogs since he first came to Congress in 2001. Over the years, the members of the Blue Dog Coalition have built their reputation based on their commitment to bringing a moderate viewpoint to the U.S. Congress. In fact, since the Coalition’s inception in 1995, they have consistently promoted positions which bridge the gap between ideological extremes.
Click here to visit the official website for the Blue Dog Coalition.
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Blue Dogs also share the fundamental belief that government should be
fiscally responsible and fully accountable to the people. This
requires that we make tough decisions, but that is precisely why we are
elected to Congress. Members of the Blue Dog Coalition are willing to
make the tough – and often politically unpopular – decisions. We do
not prescribe to a far left or far right political philosophy. We’re
in the middle, which is where we believe most Americans are.
The Coalition has built a reputation as a serious player in the policy
arena, particularly in the nation's health care debate. Many of the
group’s proposals have been praised as fair, responsible, and positive
additions to a Congressional environment too often marked as partisan
and antagonistic.
Members of the Blue Dog Coalition are dedicated to the financial
stability and national security of the United States and are united
behind a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, which
include the following:
- The Blue Dogs represent the center of the House of Representatives;
- The Blue Dogs appeal to the mainstream values of the American public;
- The Coalition develops substantive proposals and positions distinct from those advocated by the extremes of both parties;
- Blue Dogs are independent of the leadership of either party;
- Blue Dogs influence the legislative process by forming a united voting bloc.
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In the 112th Congress, which began on January 5, 2011, Mike assumed the role as Co-Chair of Communications for the Blue Dog Coalition. Previously, Mike served as Chair of the Blue Dog Health Care Task Force in the 111th Congress (2009-2011) where he had a pivotal role in the national health care reform debate. He also served as Co-Chair for Communications in the 110th Congress (2007-2009).
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