12-16-2000

CONGRESS: Congressional Centrists

HOUSE GROUPS


The Tuesday Group


Formed in 1992


Leaders: Reps. Michael N. Castle, R-Del.; Fred Upton, R-Mich.


The Tuesday Group of moderate House Republicans used to be called
"The Lunch Bunch" and, strangely enough, now usually meets on
Wednesdays. It advocates fiscal restraint and debt reduction, along with
increased spending on domestic priorities. Some of its members have also
pushed middle-of-the-road proposals to raise the minimum wage, provide
prescription drug benefits, and reform the campaign finance
system.


Members (about 30): Has long refused to disclose its membership.


Unnamed Bipartisan Moderate Group


Formed in July 2000


Leaders: Reps. Amo Houghton, R-N.Y.; Tim Roemer, D-Ind.


This bipartisan group of House members, which just officially announced
its formation on Dec. 6, has no name as yet, but is committed to passing
moderate legislation ranging from education reform to electoral
reform.


Members (10): Reps. Michael N. Castle, R-Del.; Jim Davis, D-Fla.; Harold
E. Ford Jr., D-Tenn.; Jim Greenwood, R-Pa.; Amo Houghton, R-N.Y.; Nancy L.
Johnson, R-Conn.; Ron Kind, D-Wis.; Tim Roemer, D-Ind.; Ellen Tauscher,
D-Calif.; Fred Upton, R-Mich.


The Blue Dog Coalition


Formed in 1995


Leaders: Reps. Allen Boyd Jr., D-Fla.; Chris John, D-La.; Jim Turner,
D-Texas


The Blue Dog Coalition comprises moderate-to-conservative House Democrats,
many from the South. It has focused on reducing the federal debt and
passing a moderate budget that reflects fiscal constraint, but still
includes spending increases for priority programs.


Members (27): Joe Baca, D-Calif.; Marion Berry, D-Ark.; Sanford D. Bishop
Jr., D-Ga.; Allen Boyd Jr., D-Fla.; Gary Condit, D-Calif.; Bud Cramer Jr.,
D-Ala.; Harold E. Ford Jr., D-Tenn.; Ralph M. Hall, D-Texas; Baron Hill,
D-Ind.; Tim Holden, D-Pa.; Chris John, D-La.; William Lipinski, D-Ill.;
Ken Lucas, D-Ky.; Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.; Dennis Moore, D-Kan.; Collin C.
Peterson, D-Minn.; David Phelps, D-Ill.; Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.; Max
Sandlin, D-Texas; Ronnie Shows, D-Miss.; Norman Sisisky, D-Va.; Charles W.
Stenholm, D-Texas; John S. Tanner, D-Tenn.; Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif.; Gene
Taylor, D-Miss.; Mike Thompson, D-Calif.; Jim Turner, D-Texas


New Democrat Coalition


Formed in 1997


Leaders: Reps. Calvin Dooley, D-Calif.; James P. Moran, D-Va.; Tim Roemer,
D-Ind.


The New Democrat Coalition in the House has attempted to become a powerful
force on high-tech issues. The coalition also has an interest in export
controls and took the lead earlier this year in delivering Democratic
votes for legislation granting permanent normal trade relations to
China.


Members (64): Reps. Tom Allen, D-Maine; Brian Baird, D-Wash.; Jim Barcia,
D-Mich.; Ken Bentsen, D-Texas; Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.; Marion Berry,
D-Ark.; Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.; Lois Capps, D-Calif.; Bob Clement,
D-Tenn.; Bud Cramer Jr., D-Ala.; Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y.; Jim Davis,
D-Fla.; Peter R. Deutsch, D-Fla.; Calvin Dooley, D-Calif.; Anna G. Eshoo,
D-Calif.; Bob Etheridge, D-N.C.; Harold E. Ford Jr., D-Tenn.; Charles
Gonzalez, D-Texas; Baron Hill, D-Ind.; Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas; Joe M.
Hoeffel III, D-Pa.; Rush Holt, D-N.J.; Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.; Jay Inslee,
D-Wash.; Chris John, D-La.; Ron Kind, D-Wis.; John LaFalce, D-N.Y.; Nick
Lampson, D-Texas; John Larson, D-Conn.; Ken Lucas, D-Ky.; William P.
"Bill" Luther, D-Minn.; Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y.; James H.
Maloney, D-Conn.; Robert T. Matsui, D-Calif.; Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y.;
Karen McCarthy, D-Mo.; Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.; David Minge, D-Minn.; Dennis
Moore, D-Kan.; James P. Moran, D-Va.; Grace Napolitano, D-Calif.; David
Phelps, D-Ill.; David Price, D-N.C.; Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas; Tim Roemer,
D-Ind.; Steven R. Rothman, D-N.J.; Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.; Max Sandlin,
D-Texas; Brad Sherman, D-Calif.; Ronnie Shows, D-Miss.; Adam Smith,
D-Wash.; Victor F. Snyder, D-Ark.; John M. Spratt Jr., D-S.C.; Deborah Ann
Stabenow, D-Mich.; Charles W. Stenholm, D-Texas; Bart Stupak, D-Mich.;
John S. Tanner, D-Tenn.; Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif.; Mike Thomspon,
D-Calif.; Jim Turner, D-Texas; Tom Udall, D-N.M.; Robert Wexler, D-Fla.;
Robert A. Weygand, D-R.I.; David Wu, D-Ore.


SENATE GROUPS


Unnamed Republican Moderate Group


Formed in 1995


Leaders: No leader per se, but Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is the most
senior member


Sometimes called "The Mod Squad," this small group includes
liberal-leaning Senate Republicans who have crossed party lines to team
with Democrats on legislation. It meets informally to discuss a range of
issues, in weekly sessions that were held in the hideaway Capitol office
of Sen. John H. Chafee, R-R.I., until his death in 1999. In the past, the
group has helped shape the debate over welfare reform and balanced-budget
legislation.


Members (5): Sens. Lincoln D. Chafee, R-R.I.; Susan Collins, R-Maine;
James M. Jeffords, R-Vt.; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; Arlen Specter,
R-Pa.


Senate Centrist Coalition


Formed in 1993


Leaders: Sens. John Breaux, D-La.; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine


Created initially to influence the health care debate of 1993, this
bipartisan Senate coalition later crafted a budget proposal that garnered
significant support in 1996. Look for this group to weigh in on the
budget, education reform, and election process reform.


Members (27): Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind.; Robert Bennett, R-Utah; Christopher
S. Bond, R-Mo.; John Breaux, D-La.; Lincoln D. Chafee, R-R.I.; Susan
Collins, R-Maine; Mike DeWine, R-Ohio; John Edwards, D-N.C.; Bill Frist,
R-Tenn.; Bob Graham, D-Fla.; Judd Gregg, R-N.H.; James M. Jeffords, R-Vt.;
Timothy P. Johnson, D-S.D.; Herb Kohl, D-Wis.; Mary L. Landrieu, D-La.;
Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.; Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.; John McCain, R-Ariz.;
Zell Miller, D-Ga.; Gordon H. Smith, R-Ore.; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; Arlen
Specter, R-Pa.; Fred D. Thompson, R-Tenn.; Robert G. Torricelli, D-N.J.;
George Voinovich, R-Ohio; John W. Warner, R-Va.; Ron Wyden, D-Ore.


New Democrat Coalition


Formed in January 2000


Leader: Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla.


This group of Senate Democrats strives to bring a "pragmatic"
voice to debates over issues ranging from trade to education to health
care. It helped pass the China trade bill earlier this year, but failed to
advance its proposal to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act.


Members (13): Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind.; John Breaux, D-La.; Max Cleland,
D-Ga.; Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; John Edwards, D-N.C.; Dianne Feinstein,
D-Calif.; Bob Graham, D-Fla.; Herb Kohl, D-Wis.; Timothy P. Johnson,
D-S.D.; Mary L. Landrieu, D-La.; Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.; Blanche Lincoln,
D-Ark.; Zell Miller, D-Ga.




National Journal