Jim Cooper: Uncovered

Retiring and Primary-Threatened Blue Dogs Vote For Jobs Bill

By a 217 to 212 final tally which included 38 Democratic no votes, the House of Representatives last night approved the $154B "Jobs for Main Street Act" that would redirect unused and repaid TARP bailout funds towards job creation.

As Politico notes, there were some surprising Blue Dog votes in favor of the bill, including the retiring Bart Gordon and John Tanner from Tennessee:

But the three Blue Dogs who announced their retirement plans over the last month – Reps. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), John Tanner (D-Tenn.) and Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) – all voted to support the increased federal spending, a bit out of character given their political profiles. Their votes gave House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the margin necessary to pass the bill.

Tanner, in particular, is an unlikely supporter of the bill: He’s a co-founder of the Blue Dogs who has railed against excessive federal spending throughout his career in Congress.

In addition to those who are calling it quits in 2010, two Blue Dogs who have recently faced pressure from progressives also voted for the bill: Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross, who voted for the bill despite recently railing against government spending, and Jim Cooper, who voted for the bill after some earlier wavering.

Whether its the freedom from corporate campaign funders that comes with retirement or the pressure that comes from knowing they can't take their base for granted, there appears to be at least a couple of ways for constituents to win the votes of their Blue Dog congressman on legislation that actually promises to help Main Street.