Fred Thompson and the Centrist Coalition

Washington - The stalemate between the White House and Congress over a balanced budget deal has prompted some moderate Republicans and Democrats in the Senate to begin crafting a bipartisan budget plan.

The group of senators, known as the Centrist Coalition, is headed by Sens. John Chafee (R-R.I) and John Breaux (D-La.). Sen. Max Cleland (D- Ga.), replacing former Sen. Sam Nunn, is the newest Democratic member of the 22-member group, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.

The group met behind closed doors Thursday for their second meeting of the 105th Congress to begin discussing alternatives to President Clinton's five-year proposal to balance the budget.

Clinton is proposing $100 billion in spending reductions in Medicare - $20 billion less than Republicans want - and $98 billion worth of tax cuts, at least $40 billion less than what Republicans want.

"It's going to be difficult to get a budget agreement that all Republicans can support and all Democrats can support. I think that's not possible," Breaux said. "Therefore, it's essential that you have a group of moderates in the middle trying to come up with something.

"I would like to think that there is a need for a centrist approach to the budget and that our group can provide that leadership,'' he said.

The group's goals will be to produce a balanced budget that stays in balance beyond 2002, lowers entitlement spending and reduces the index used to provide cost of living adjustments to Social Security and pensions, Chafee said.

The group will be cool to tax cuts, he said, noting, "There are precious few tax cuts that don't make our budget deficit solution more difficult."

Cleland, who campaigned on a pledge to be the "sensible center" in the Senate, said the group's moderate approach appealed to him.

"This is kind of like a third force here," Cleland said. "There are no heroes, no finger pointing, just focusing on getting the job done and getting the best budget that's reasonable."

Chafee and Breaux originally got together in 1993 to fashion a bipartisan alternative to Clinton 's health care initiative.

During the 104th Congress, the group became more organized and proposed a bipartisan budget agreement that would split the difference between Democratic and Republican proposals, offering fewer tax cuts than Republican leaders wanted and more entitlement spending cuts than Democratic leaders wanted.

The plan attracted 46 votes, short of the majority needed, but more than twice the number the group could safely count on with its 22 members.

The coalition lost several Republican members due to retirement last year, including Sens. William Cohen, Nancy Kassebaum and Hank Brown.

Freshman Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) attended the coalition's first meeting and are considering joining, Chafee said.

"It's really a wonderful group," Chafee said. "And I think everyone who was a part of it thought it was one of the high points of their service here."

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seizing a rare moment in Senate history, senators from both parties who consider themselves centrists are uniting to help Congress and the White House find common ground on education, taxes and other fundamental issues.

About one-third of the Senate, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, showed up Wednesday for a brief organizational meeting of the Senate Centrist Coalition. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota , acknowledging their potential influence, appeared before the group to give their blessing to the endeavor.

Solutions to many issues of the day ``are going to defy partisan politics,'' Lott said. ``Different times and different situations call for different approaches.''

The Senate has 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats, which prompted Lott and Daschle to forge a unique power-sharing relationship. President Bush also emphasized in his first days in office that he needs Democratic support to carry out his agenda.

Bush met Democratic congressional leaders Wednesday at the White House to discuss budget matters, education, election reform and other issues. There were no negotiations of their differences, but Bush said that meeting with members of Congress was a habit he intended to keep. He said it is time ``to get together and get things done.''

Sens. John Breaux, D-La., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, leaders of the centrist coalition, said they plan to meet once a week to draw up policy recommendations and offer their ideas to committee chairmen and other Senate leaders.

Snowe said they might, for example, come up with a compromise solution on school vouchers to children attending failing public schools, a key part of Bush's education package but strongly opposed by most Democrats. ``We may be a catalyst for that middle ground on that issue,'' she said.

Breaux said he thinks Lott and Daschle ``both realized that unless ther e is some bipartisan recommendations, nothing will get done in this Congress.''

Among the Republicans aligned with the coalition are Education Committee Chairman Jim Jeffords of Vermont , Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain of Arizona , Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson of Tennessee , Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner of Virginia and Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici of New Mexico .

Democrats included former vice presidential nominee Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut , Dianne Feinstein of California , Bob Torricelli of New Jersey and six Democratic freshmen.

Daschle acknowledged that it's now popular to be considered a centrist in this age of political parity, joking, ``There was a meeting called of the fringe element and no one showed up.''

With regards to Thompson's actions/votes/positions on fiscal issues, here is what he has done/said (List originally compiled by Reagan Man):

BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT: Passage of the joint resolution to pass a constitutional amendment to balance the budget by the year 2002 or two years after ratification by the states. Rejected 65-35, March 2, 1995. Fred supported the amendment.

LINE-ITEM VETO: Passage of the bill to provide the president with the ability to veto individual line items in an appropriations bill, targeted tax breaks in a revenue bill, or new entitlement spending. Approved 69-29, March 23, 1995. Fred supported the bill.

TAX CUTS: Gramm amendment to the budget resolution to provide tax cuts similar to those provided by the House, including a $500-per child credit, a reduction in the capital gains tax rate, an expansion of IRAs, and the elimination of the marriage penalty in the tax code. Rejected 31-69, May 23, 1995. Fred supported the amendment.

BALANCED BUDGET ACT. Passage of the bill to balance the budget over seven years, by reducing projected spending by $894 billion and cutting taxes by $245 billion. Approved 52-47, November 17, 1995. Fred supported the bill.

TAX LIMITATION: SConRes 57 (CQ Senate Vote 128), FY 1997 Budget Resolution. Exon (D-NE) motion to table (kill) the Kyl (R-AZ) amendment to express the sense of the Senate that fundamental tax reform should be accompanied by a constitutional amendment to require a supermajority of Congress to approve a tax increase. Motion agreed to 59-41, May 22, 1996. Fred opposed the Exon motion.

SOCIAL SECURITY TAX DEDUCTION: SConRes 57 (CQ Senate Vote 140), FY 1997 Budget Resolution. Ashcroft (R-MO) amendment to allow a tax deduction for the Social Security payroll tax and to offset the costs by decreasing discretionary and mandatory spending. Rejected 43-57, May 22, 1996. Fred supported the Ashcroft amendment.

MAINTAINING BUDGETARY FIREWALLS: SConRes 57 (CQ Senate Vote 147), FY 1997 Budget Resolution. Domenici (R-NM) motion to table (kill) the Bumpers (D-AR) amendment to abolish the "firewall" between defense and domestic discretionary spending. The "firewall" provides an essential defense against liberals’ attempts to shift funds from defense accounts to non-defense domestic discretionary accounts. Motion agreed to 57-41, May 23, 1996. Fred supported the Domenici motion.

TAX CUTS: SConRes 57 (CQ Senate Vote 151), FY 1997 Budget Resolution. Domenici (R-NM) motion to table (kill) the Feingold (D-WI) amendment to eliminate the $122 billion provided for tax cuts over six years. Motion agreed to 57-43, May 23, 1996. Fred supported the Domenici motion.

BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. SJRes1 (roll call vote 24). Balanced-Budget Constitutional Amendment. Passage of the joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment to balance the budget by the year 2002 or two years after ratification by three-fourths of the states, whichever is later. Three-fifths of the entire House and Senate would be required to approve deficit spending or an increase in the public debt limit. A simple majority could waive the requirement in times of war or when the United States is engaged in a military conflict that causes an imminent national security threat. Rejected 66-34, March 4, 1997. (A two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting is required to pass a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution.) Fred supported the amendment.

FUTURE DEFICIT SPENDING PROHIBITION. SConRes27, FY 1998 Budget Resolution (roll call vote 83). Ashcroft (R-MO) motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Lautenberg (D-NJ) point of order against his amendment to require a three-fifths vote of both Houses of Congress for passage of any legislation that increases the deficit after FY 2002. Motion rejected 41-58, May 22, 1997. A three-fifths majority vote (60) of the total Senate is required to waive the Budget Act. (Subsequently, the chair upheld the Lautenberg point of order and the amendment was defeated.) Fred supported the motion.

TAX CUT/SPENDING FREEZE. SConRes27, FY 1998 Budget Resolution (roll call vote 90). Domenici (R-NM) motion to table (kill) the Grams (R-MN) amendment to require the $220 billion Congressional Budget Office revenue windfall be applied to deficit reduction and tax relief, and to freeze non-defense discretionary spending. Motion agreed to 73-27, May 23, 1997. Fred opposed the motion to table.

NANNY STATE TAX CUTS. S949, FY 1998 Budget Reconciliation (roll call vote 139). Gramm (R-TX) amendment to eliminate the requirement that the $500-per-child tax credit be invested in a tuition program or education individual retirement account, and let parents make their own decisions on how to use the tax credit. Rejected 46-54, June 27, 1997. Fred supported the amendment.

INFLATION INDEXING. S949, FY 1998 Budget Reconciliation (roll call vote 159). Allard (R-CO) amendment to require that capital gains be indexed for inflation. Rejected 41-57, June 27, 1997. Fred supported the amendment.

TAX CUTS. SconRes86 (roll call vote 55). McCain (R-AZ) motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Lautenberg (D-NJ) point of order against the Coverdell (R-GA) amendment. Coverdell's amendment would reduce cut taxes by $195.5 billion over five years by raising the income thresholds for the 15 percent and 28 percent tax brackets. Motion rejected 38-62: R 38-17, April 01, 1998. A three-fifths majority vote (60) of the total Senate is required to waive the Budget Act. (Subsequently, the chair upheld the point of order, and the amendment fell.) Fred supported the motion to waive the point of order.

SOCIAL SECURITY PERSONAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS. SconRes 86 (roll call vote 56). Roth (R-DE) amendment to express the sense of the Senate that the Senate Finance Committee should in 1998 report legislation that would dedicate the federal budget surplus to the establishment of Social Security "personal retirement accounts." Adopted 51-49, April 01, 1998. Fred supported the amendment.

TAX LIMITATION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT - Passage, H.J.Res. 37 (Roll Call Vote No. 90). April 15, 1999 - Passage of the joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds majority vote of the House and Senate to pass any legislation that increases federal revenues by more than a "de minimis," or insignificant, amount. The exact definition of "de minimis" would be left to Congress. The resolution was rejected 229-199, 15 Apr. 1999. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting (286 in this case) is required to pass a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution. Fred supported the resolution.

TAX CUT PACKAGE - Passage, HR 2488 (Roll Call Vote No. 333). Passage of the bill to reduce federal taxes by $792 billion over 10 years. The measure would reduce individual income tax rates by 10 percent over a 10-year period, contingent upon annual progress in reducing interest on the nation's debt. It would reduce the "marriage penalty" by increasing the standard deduction for married couples to double that for singles; cut the capital gains tax rate for individuals from 20 percent to 15 percent for property held for more than one year; gradually lower the corporate capital gains tax rate from 35 percent to 30 percent by 2005; reduce the estate and gift tax rates until they are completely eliminated in 2009; accelerate the phase-in of a 100 percent deduction for health insurance premiums for the self-employed, and allow all taxpayers to deduct health care and long-term care insurance if employers pay 50 percent or less of the premium; increase the annual contribution limit for Education Savings Accounts from $500 to $2,000 and permit tax-free withdrawals to pay for public and private elementary and secondary tuition and expenses. Bill passed 223-208, 22 July 1999. Fred supported the bill.

TAX CUTS, S.Con.Res. 101 (Roll Call Vote No. 68) The Senate defeated an amendment deleting all tax cuts in the Congressional Budget Resolution. The vote was 44-56, 7 Apr. 2000. Fred opposed the amendment.

FISCAL 2001 BUDGET RESOLUTION – Adoption, H.Con.Res. 290 (Roll Call Vote No. 79) The Senate adopted a five-year budget plan that includes $147.1 billion in tax cuts. The vote was 51-45, 7 Apr. 2000. Fred supported this budget.

GAS TAX SUSPENSION – Cloture, S. 2285 (Roll Call Vote No. 80) The Senate failed to limit debate on a bill that would suspend the 4.3 ¢/gallon federal gas tax surcharge from April 15 through Jan. 1, 2001. If the national average gas price reached $2/gallon, the remaining 14.1 ¢/gallon federal tax would also be suspended. The vote was 43-56, with 60 votes needed, 11 Apr. 2000. Fred supports efforts to lower the gas tax.

MARRIAGE PENALTY TAX – Cloture, HR 6 (Roll Call Vote No. 82) The Senate failed to limit debate on an amendment that would essentially eliminate the federal tax penalty on married couples. The vote was 53-45, with 60 votes needed, 13 Apr. 2000. Fred supported this effort to lessen the marriage penalty.

ESTATE TAX REPEAL. HR 8 (Roll Call Vote No. 180) The Senate voted down an amendment that would have maintained the “death” tax while easing its effect in some cases. The vote was 46-53, 13 July 2000. Fred supported the amendment.

GAS TAX SUSPENSION, HR 8 (Roll Call Vote No. 183) The Senate voted no to suspend the entire federal gas tax of 18.4 ¢/gallon for 150 days. The vote was 40-59, 13 July 2000. Fred supported the suspension.

TAXATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, HR 8 (Roll Call Vote No. 188) The Senate voted to reduce the percentage of Social Security benefits that are taxable from 85 percent to 50 percent, which was the level up until 1993. The vote was 58-41, 13 July 2000. Fred supported the reduction.

ESTATE TAX REPEAL – Passage, HR 8 (Roll Call Vote No. 197) The Senate vote to phase out the “death” tax by 2010. The vote was 59-39, 14 July 2000. Fred supported the bill.

2001 INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS. S. 420 (Roll Call Vote No. 21 ) Sessions (R-AL) motion to protect individual retirement accounts from limitations imposed during bankruptcy proceedings. The bill was defeated (61-37) Fred supported this bill.

2001 BUDGET RESOLUTION CAPPING SPENDING. H. Con. Res. 83 (Roll Call Vote No. 98 ) Adoption of the final version of the Budget Resolution, calling for approximately $1.35 trillion in tax cuts through fiscal 2011, including a $100 billion stimulus package. "Discretionary" spending was capped at $661.3 billion. The bill was passed (53-47) Fred supported this bill.

2001 CAPITAL GAINS TAX RATE REDUCTION. HR 1836 (Roll Call Vote No. 115 ) Gregg (R-NH) motion to allow consideration of his amendment to the tax cut bill. His amendment would provide for a temporary reduction in the maximum capital gains rate from 20 percent to 15 percent, to stimulate the economy. The bill was defeated (47-51) Fred supported this bill.

2001 TAX CUT BILL HR 1836 (Roll Call Vote No. 170 ) Adoption of the final version of the tax cut bill, reducing taxes by $1.35 trillion through 2010 through income tax rate cuts, relief of the "marriage penalty," a phase-out of the federal estate tax, doubling the child tax credit, and providing incentives. The bill was defeated (58-33) Fred supported this bill.

Caps on Government Spending. HR 4775 (Roll Call 133) The motion would extend for five years caps on federal spending and establish other procedural controls on federal spending. ACU supported this budget discipline measure, which failed on a 49-49 vote (60 votes were required) on 5 June 2002. The bill was defeated (49-49) Fred supported this bill.

Death Tax Repeal Permanent. HR 8 (Roll Call 151) The motion would make the repeal of the estate or death tax passed in 2001 permanent. ACU supported this effort, which received a 54-44 vote majority on 12 June 2002, but Senate rules require 60 votes under the Budget Act. The bill was defeated (54-44) Fred supported this bill.

Does this help with your concerns about how moderate Fred is on fiscal issues

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