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Bush connects to right democrats after gop loses Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/16197860.htmhttp://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/16197860.htm
Posted on Fri, Dec. 08, 2006
Moore, Blue Dog leaders encouraged by meeting with Bush
SAM HANANEL
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Kansas Rep. Dennis Moore got right to the point when he and other Blue Dog Democrats held a rare meeting on Friday with President Bush in the Oval Office.
"Mr. President, I'm one year older than you are," Moore says he told Bush. "I have seven grandchildren. A lot of people think we're mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren in this country, and that needs to change."
It's the first time Bush has ever invited leaders of the 44-member group of moderate and conservative Democrats to the White House.
Moore, one of three Blue Dog Coalition co-chairmen, said he thinks Bush is sincere in seeking to work more closely with Democrats now that they control Congress. The president met at the same time with leaders of another moderate group of Democratic lawmakers, the New Democrat Coalition.
During the 45-minute meeting, Moore and his colleagues focused on the group's core principles: balancing the budget, restoring fiscal discipline and creating energy independence. They also discussed entitlement reform and earmark reform - making lawmakers more accountable for special projects slipped into legislation to help their districts.
Foremost on Moore's mind was working to reduce the national debt, now at $8.6 trillion. About $2.8 trillion of that amount has been added during the six years of Bush's presidency.
"We desperately need to change the way we're doing business in this country and start living like American families do," Moore said.
That includes following three basic rules, Moore said: Don't spend more money than you make, pay off your debts and invest in the basics for the future. Moore wants Congress to return to pay-as-you-go budget rules from the 1990s that helped bring the budget into balance.
Moore said Bush seemed receptive to the lawmakers' concerns and told them he wants to look for areas of common ground.
"I think it's in his in interest, it's in his party's interest and our country's interest to try to build those bridges, develop those relationships because that's how you get stuff done," Moore said.
Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., another Blue Dog co-chair who attended the gathering, said the president indicated that he welcomed future meetings.
"My only regret is that it took six years and the president losing control of the House and Senate to extend an invitation to us to come over," Ross said.
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