Capitol Hill Blog Row

TimChapman wrote on Townhall Today I joined other bloggers (listed here) at the first ever Capitol Hill Blog Row

Another first in the world of blogging

(almost all of today's posts below are dedicated to the event). The event was organized by the House Republican Conference and when all was said and done we bloggers had the opportunity to talk with 23 members of the Republican caucus.

I wish I had been able to be there.

The members were forthcoming and excited to talk with us. The biggest issue of the day was federal spending.

A very significant matter, IMHO.

Bloggers in attendance peppered lawmakers with questions about growing deficits and runaway spending. To be certain, lawmakers left the event hearing the growing concern in the blogosphere about spending. And conversely, the members who attended all were upbeat about cutting government spending. Representative Phil Gingrey said he agreed with Club for Growth President Pat Toomey's assessment that on the spending issue, the Republican caucus is facing a "defining moment." Congressman Chris Chocola added, "this is a test we cannot afford to fail."Congressman Dan Lungren said that he thinks that the GOP is finally "catching up with the grassroots" on the issue of spending and Congresswoman Katherine Harris said the issue would be crucial in her 2006 Senate bid. Perhaps Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor was one of the most forceful, insisting that Congress was "just finishing up a week where the clear distinction between the parties is clear. We are responding to the public outcry about federal spending; We in the Republican majority have proposed a four point plan to increase the amount of mandatory savings by 50 billion." I asked RSC member Congressman Jeb Hensarling if he thought that Republicans might be able to come up with even more than $50 billion in savings, "there is an opportunity to come up with a bigger number," said the sophomore from Texas. "Most conservatives are committed to the idea of a dollar for dollar offset for Katrina spending.

I hope you can do a better job than the Senate

The money is going to come from either raising taxes, adding debt to our kids, or the federal government will have to tighten its belt so Americans don't have to."

The third is the way to do it.

Indeed, in regards to federal spending, the mood was optimistic and determined. RSC Chairman Mike Pence is convinced that "under the leadership of Speaker Hastert we will be successfull in cutting spending." But Pence cautioned that "challenging days lay ahead," nevertheless, he has never seen as much unity among Republicans as he does today. Other issues were discussed. Congressman Trent Franks led a lively discussion about his feelings regarding Harriet Miers and the next Supreme Court opening. Franks supports Miers, but like many conservatives, is itching for a fight on the next go round.Congressman Joe Wilson, a member of the Armed Services Committee who has two sons who have served in Iraq, noted that "63 percent turnout in the Iraqi elections is extraordinary," and he shared positive stories from Iraq that he had received first hand from his sons. Former Majority Leader Tom DeLay and his current troubles were also a topic. Congressman Wilson lamented the GOP failure to abolish the GOP House indictment rule that allowed a special prosecutor to take down DeLay without proving he had done anything wrong.

A better alternative, IMHO, would be to shame the Democrats into having such a rule.

Wilson noted that the Democrats have no similar rule in their caucus. Congressman Hensarling also commented on Delay, "Leader DeLay has been critical to everything we’ve done in the House. He is still a leader, perhaps with a lower case l rather than upper case."

All in all this was a great event that I hope the Republican conference does more of. Paging the White House and the Senate...you guys could learn something from the House side.

Many more members were in attendence than I listed, and all of them were great. Here are the members who took the time to answer our questions: Gohmert (TX-1), Pryce (OH-15), Pence (IN-6), Dreier (CA-26), Brady (TX-8), Kingston (GA-1), Diaz-Balart M. (FL-25), Gingrey (GA-11), Garrett (NJ-05), Blackburn (TN-7), Pearce (NM-2), Chocola (IN-2), Cannon (UT-3), Lungren (CA-3), Kennedy (MN-6), Harris (FL-13), Inglis (SC-4), Franks (AZ-2), Conaway (TX-11), Hensarling (TX-5), Wilson (SC-2), Carter (TX-31), Cantor (VA-7).