In Congress, a Pack of 'Blue Dogs' Gains Ground

From The Wall Street Journal:

This fiscally conservative coalition of Democrats [known as the Blue Dogs] is growing in number and importance. That is going to pose a challenge for House Democratic leaders already under pressure to show achievements as they try to corral their increasingly diverse coalition.

The main sticking point: Blue Dogs are vehement defenders of what is called the pay-as-you-go, or pay-go, budget rule, which requires that new spending programs or tax cuts to be offset with tax increases or spending reductions.

The group formed after the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress. Its 23 conservative Democratic members supported much of the Republican platform outlined in that party's "Contract with America." But the conservative Democrats balked at billions in tax cuts Republicans wanted, which they thought should be used to cut the deficit. The Blue Dog Coalition's name is a play on the early 1900s term "yellow-dog Democrat," based on a group of Southerners said to be so loyal to the party that they would vote for a yellow dog before a Republican.

Now, the Blue Dogs are a growing breed. Their coalition has 49 members, including two who recently unseated Republicans in special elections. The group has made the pay-go rule its top priority, saying that without more budget discipline, the U.S. will have to borrow funds from other countries and put future generations into debt.

They are hoping their numbers will grow in this year's general elections too, as Democrats try to win more races on what has been considered Republican terrain.