Struggling for control on the Hill

Political landscape

Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif.

Woolsey is the co-chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group of more than 70 avowedly liberal Democratic lawmakers. They believe the economic stimulus plan supported by President Obama falls short by nearly $200 million. They also want troops out of Iraq in a year, not the 16 months dictated by Obama, and they are not too keen on moving thousands more troops into Afghanistan.  In addition, the progressives are seeking a repeal of the Bush administration’s federal wiretapping law, which Obama voted for last summer. While the progressives may not immediately challenge Obama on any of these issues, they lurk on the horizon as a potential threat to Obama’s agenda once the honeymoon wanes. How big a threat are they? With its substantial membership, the progressive caucus makes up a third of all House Democrats and hold the gavels on half of the 20 committees.

Barbara Lee, D-Calif.

As chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Lee is the voice of one of the most outspoken liberal factions in Congress. The 41 House members and one senator of the caucus may still be celebrating the presidency of former member Barack Obama, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be at odds with some of the more centrist proposals of his administration. The group that has been the voice for African-Americans in Washington will also have to cope with taking a back seat to the first black president. Obama was never really active in the group, and he is unlikely to fully champion its agenda.  Lee, who is also a leader in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, along with House majority whip and longtime member James Clyburn, will be among the voices that Obama cannot afford to ignore. If he does, the two will make him pay closer attention.

Allen Boyd, D-Fla.

At the other end of the political spectrum within the House Democratic Caucus are the Blue Dogs, a group of fiscally conservative lawmakers who want to balance the budget, strengthen national security and bring their party to the center.  Boyd, a farmer and Vietnam veteran who is co-chairman of the group, could become a thorn in Obama’s side on any of the president’s spending proposals.  If the Blue Dogs decide to team up with Republicans to defeat budget or defense legislation, it could be big trouble for the White House. The group, which was only 30-strong a few years ago, now boasts 51 members, many of them freshmen or sophomores from vulnerable swing districts where liberal politics don’t play well.  The Blue Dogs already have the ear of moderate House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, of Maryland, and if Obama is smart, he will listen up, too.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid

It may seem like smooth sailing ahead for Obama since both the House and Senate are comfortably dominated by Democrats, but he is all but guaranteed to face roadblocks from legislative leaders determined to maintain their own independence and authority in their co-equal branch of government. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have already sent messages via the media that they don’t plan to simply follow Obama’s marching orders. As if to drive home that point, Reid last week banned Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. (who is also Senate president) from attending the weekly Democratic caucus meetings. Pelosi has cautioned her former lieutenant, Rahm Emanuel — now Obama’s chief of staff — against meddling in legislative affairs.