In Case You Missed It
An article in Politico today highlights the impact of efforts led by Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) pushing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to reduce government spending. The article explains that Himes and other freshman lawmakers are urging Democratic leaders in Congress to pay for any new spending moving forward and to cut spending across the board.
Himes’ thoughtful approach has led him to support a multifaceted strategy to fix the economy. Taking into consideration advice from economists across the ideological spectrum, Himes supported the stimulus and legislation that has helped stem the tide of foreclosures. However, he has also opposed a number of Democratic spending plans and has urged Congressional leaders to direct TARP repayments and other funds to pay down the deficit. With only half of the funding for the two-year stimulus project spent and increasing concerns—both at home and abroad—regarding the national debt, Himes believes is it time to begin signaling an intention to reduce the deficit.
From the article:
But this time was different: The malcontents were freshmen, many of whom have enthusiastically backed President Barack Obama’s agenda most of the way but now are choking on its cost.
Some of the first-term lawmakers said the dollar figure on a nearly $200 billion spending and tax cuts package was too big for them, even if some of the package was paid for with revenue offsets, according to senior party aides.
“I’m just at a point where I don’t want to see any more unpaid spending,” Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), a freshman from a previously Republican district, told POLITICO the day of that meeting. He said concern about spending is “fairly common” in the 2008 group of freshman House Democrats because they are “a little more inclined to keep an ear to the ground.”
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