It is an honor to be selected by my colleagues to help lead this group as we work together to bring my party in Congress back to the middle.  It’s the common sense ideas and values I learned growing up in Arkansas that will guide my decisions to help solve many of the difficult challenges that we face as a nation.  Serving in this leadership role is a big responsibility and I am proud to lead our fight to bring fiscal responsibility back to our government and to demand accountability for how our tax dollars are spent.

   I have been a member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition since I came to Congress in 2001 because our group represents the center of the House of Representatives and appeals to the mainstream values of the American people.  The Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 as a response to the Republican tidal wave that swept Democrats out of power. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that include a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. 

   It’s time that we clean up the mess in Washington and put an end to the partisan bickering once and for all.  When the Democrats became the majority in the U.S. House last week, it showed that America is ready for a new direction and the Blue Dogs will help lead this charge in Congress. I am in the middle, Americans overwhelmingly sent a message last week that they are in the middle, the Blue Dog Coalition is in the middle and that is where we are moving the Democratic Party.

   The Blue Dog Coalition is set to grow from 37 members to at least 44 members, and I am proud to help us chart a new course for a new Congress as we work together to restore common sense and accountability to our nation’s government. 

   “It is an honor to be selected by my colleagues to help lead this group of conservative Democrats as we work together to bring the Democratic Party back to the middle,” Ross said.  “It’s the common sense ideas and values I learned growing up in Arkansas that will help guide my decisions to help solve many of the difficult challenges that we face as a nation.  Serving in this leadership role is a real honor and a big responsibility and I am proud to lead our fight to bring fiscal responsibility back to our government and to demand accountability for how our tax dollars are spent.”   

   The conservative Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 as a response the Republican tidal wave that swept Democrats out of power.  Blue Dogs represent the center of the House of Representatives and appeal to the mainstream values of the American public.  The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. 

   “It’s time that we clean up the mess in Washington and put an end to the partisan bickering once and for all,” Ross said. “When the Democrats won a majority in the U.S. House last week, it showed that America is ready for a new direction and the Blue Dogs will help lead this charge in Congress. I am in the middle, Americans overwhelmingly said with their votes last week that they are in the middle, the Blue Dog Coalition is in the middle and that is where we are moving the Democratic Party.” 

   The Blue Dog Coalition is set to grow from 37 members to at least 44 members when the 110^th Congress convenes in January 2007.  Due to the efforts of Ross and other conservative Democrats, the Blue Dog Coalition has now become one of the largest organized caucuses of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Blue Dog members hail from every region of the country, and numerous political experts, scholars and pundits have credited Ross and the Blue Dogs for helping the Democratic Party retake the majority in the House of Representatives during last week’s midterm elections. 

   Ross has been a member of the Conservative Blue Dog Coalition since he was first elected to represent Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District in Congress in 2000.  He currently serves as Whip of the Blue Dogs for the 109^th Congress, and is responsible for keeping the coalition of 37 members together on numerous issues of fiscal responsibility and national security.      

   Wednesday’s announcement follows a vote that took place in the U.S. Capitol last night where Ross was voted as Co-Chair for Communications for the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, one of four leadership positions to lead the Blue Dog Coalition when the 110^th Congress convenes in January 2007. 

   Other Co-Chairs of the Conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition include Rep. Allen Boyd of Florida who will serve as Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration and Rep. Dennis Moore of Kansas who will serve as Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy.  In addition, Rep. Stephanie Herseth of South Dakota was voted to succeed Ross as Blue Dog Whip beginning in January. 

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