Media

Today, Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications, released the following statement after reports that House and Senate leaders continue to make progress on a deal to move forward with key elements of fiscal reform.

"After many hard fought years, we are on the precipice of achieving real fiscal reform in Washington. The Blue Dogs applaud the administration, as well as the members of Congress who have worked so diligently over the past year to restore the proven pay-as-you-go rules that were in effect when we achieved budget surpluses in the 1990's.

Leading members of the Blue Dog Coalition issued the following statements today after a press conference with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on the need to reenact statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO).

Leading members of the Blue Dog Coalition issued the following statements today after a press conference with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on the need to reenact statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO).

Today, Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications, released the following statement after Republicans in the House offered a motion to recommit that would add billions of dollars to the deficit.

"For all that we hear from our colleagues across the aisle about deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility, it is unbelievable that they would put forward a proposal that would add billions of dollars to the deficit.

Today, members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition announced their official endorsement of the bipartisan, bicameral Fairness and Independence in Redistricting (FAIR) Act, H.R. 3025, a measure spearheaded by Blue Dog founding member Representative John Tanner of Tennessee. The Blue Dogs have long advocated for this critical piece of legislation, which would take much needed steps toward putting an end to gerrymandering – the political power grab that too often cripples Congress' ability to work together on bipartisan solutions.

Today, for the first time in over 10 years, the House voted to give pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules the force of law, a move that would bring a level of fiscal discipline to the federal government not seen since Congress balanced the budget in the 1990's.

Today, leaders of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition stood in strong support of President Obama as he urged members of both the House and Senate to pass legislation requiring that any new mandatory government spending be matched with budget cuts or savings elsewhere. In a press conference with members of the Coalition, the President announced his support for legislation that would reinstitute statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules, a move long advocated by the Blue Dogs as a way to restore much-needed fiscal discipline to the federal government.

Today, under the leadership of Representative Baron Hill (D-IN), the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition unveiled H.R. 2116, the "Fiscal Honesty and Accountability Act of 2009," a measure that would strengthen Congress' commitment to fiscal responsibility and accountability by reinstituting statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules. The legislation, which would require both the House and Senate to abide by PAYGO rules if enacted into law, has been a cornerstone of the Blue Dogs' efforts to restore fiscal discipline to the federal government.