Did you keep tabs on your Congressperson this week?
It was a fascinating week to track Rep. Shelley Moore Capito's (R-WV) votes. After all, Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) is leading the House through a 100-hour Agenda of Democratic Party initiatives that all enjoy majority public support. For Congressional members voting the will of their constituents, it was a string of easy "Yes" votes this week.
Update: poll added.
All but one 100-hour Agenda item (the lift on the ban of Stem Cell research the sole exception) are front-and-center Democratic Party initiatives specifically because Republican party leadership kept them from being voted on in the past.
Last term, Republican Capito's support for Dennis Hastert and Tom Delay as House leaders kept many issues--despite broad public support--from even being considered. Furthermore, in her position on the rules committee Rep. Capito did nothing to bring popular issues--some of which she herself supports--to the floor for votes.
What did the Democratic Party accomplish this week?
The public interest is well served by House passage of: lobbyist reform, enhanced intelligence oversight authority, implementing 9/11 commission recommendations, an increase in the minimum wage, a lift on the ban of stem cell research, and the return Medicare prescription drug price negotiation.
Did Rep. Capito represent the public interest?
Overall, I'd say she did okay. Not half bad, yet not so great. Here's the "not half bad" side.
Rep. Capito served us well by voting for: rules for the 110th House that included lobbyist reform, implementation of 9/11 commission recommendations, an increase in the minimum wage, and a lift on stem cell research bad. [Giving credit where it is due... I say: thank you, Rep. Capito. Next up: please don't cave when pressured on any veto over-ride votes.]
Nonetheless, I stick with my assessment earlier this week: Overachieving Rep. Capito (R-WV) breaks campaign promises in first 100 hrs. Why? Let's look at all of the key votes for the week.
Raw data gathered Washington Post vote database. The table is sorted by # of GOP "defections" to the Democratic party (and majority public opinion) position.
First, it turns out Rep. Capito joined 48 other Republican who provided mixed support for lobbyist reform. They voting against it on the straight up-or-down vote (top row vote) before accepting it as part of a larger package (fifth row vote).
Next, she's yet to put any limits on executive power.
Finally, she's still siding with corporate interests over public health care interests.
The Bottom Line
Rep. Capito is a mushy moderate Republican. She's hardly independent and certainly no maverick.
It's an overall vote mix I find rather unappealing. We would be far better served with a Democratic Party member representing WV-02.
What really puzzles me...
What do West Virginia Republicans think of these votes?
Do Club for Growth and Main Street Republicans hold their nose after support for a higher minimum wage? What about the businesses who view the remaining 9/11 commission recommendations as overly burdensome to them? Anti-abortion Republicans already begrudgingly support pro-choice Capito, will they view her multiple pro-stem cell research votes as yet more slaps in the face?
That's a big problem for mushy moderates--there's plenty for everyone to dislike.
It makes you wonder, will this be the year a primary opponent comes at Shelley Moore Capito from the right-wing of her party?