Posted on 07/19/2010 1:09:41 PM PDT by mdittmar
A House committee has approved Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann's proposal to create an official House Tea Party Caucus.
Bachmann announced via Twitter that the Committee on House Administration approved her request.
The new caucus, Bachmann announced last week, will focus on "fiscal responsibility, adherence to the Constitution, and limited government."
She said in a statement: "This caucus will espouse the timeless principles of our founding, principles that all Members of Congress have sworn to uphold. The American people are doing their part and making their voices heard and this caucus will prove that there are some here in Washington willing to listen."
As CBS News Capitol Hill producer Jill Jackson reports, there are already a number of caucuses in Congress, representing all kinds of interests -- ranging from the Congressional Black Caucus to the Wine Caucus, to which many Northern California members belong.
Still, not all Republicans may be ready for a Tea Party caucus, Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne contends.
While Bachmann is already dedicated to the movement, some other Republicans " would like the Tea Party to rally as many right-of-center voters to the polls as possible but not have to take any responsibility for the movement's more radical stands or the unseemly rhetoric that issues from some of its supporters," Dionne writes.
He continues: "At the very moment many Republicans are trying to figure out how to finesse the Tea Party, Bachmann is setting out to make the finesse a little bit harder."
At least one other Republican, however, is already on board with Bachmann, Jill Jackson reports: When asked if he'd join the Tea Party Caucus, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said, "You betcha."
You know, she really would make a fine President.
If not all Republicans are interested, maybe some Democrats would like to repent and join?
This might be a place where cutting spending gets areal hearing. It would be valuable if Tea Party candidates suggested that we cut spending by 10% over the 2008 budget - the one before the recession and that we end polution in government before we start a Cap and trade program. Cut the size and the regulations and you grow the economy.
Of course, they’ll share a conference room with the Black Caucus...right?
Maybe next she or somebody can come with the White Caucus.
This puts an “official” label on the group, though. I like to think we’re not “official”, but a grassroots effort.
the Whine Caucus, to which many Northern California members belong.
I love this woman. Wish all Republicans had her backbone.
A grassroots effort for "fiscal responsibility, adherence to the Constitution, and limited government.";)
You're not kidding. She'd make a hell of a president. She's smart, tenacious, and she's willing to fight for the Constitution.
Even with few members, the Tea Party Caucus could be the deciding swing votes to make/break upcoming legislation.
I’m sure the Democrats believe their own lies that the Tea Party is a racist fringe group and are more than happy to yoke Republican lawmakers with them. If they truly understood who the Tea Party is, they’d have told Bachmann “no”.
Very good news and a very good beginning.
“you know, she really would make a fine President.
You’re not kidding. She’d make a hell of a president. She’s smart, tenacious, and she’s willing to fight for the Constitution.”
HERE HERE, I SECOND THAT MOTION! ALL IN FAVOR SAY: AYE!
I agree she is fantastic. We need many more like her.
Hopefully, it’ll be a much bigger caucus next year.
Aye!
Send her a few dollars...she is under constant attack from Pelosi, who wants her out, and has the money to make it happen. She has proven her worth and deserves our support.
Go, Michele Bachmann, GO!
are you kidding.
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