When it comes to the six-member GOP contingent that will serve on the new “super-committee” on deficit reduction, Rep. Fred Upton (R., Mich.) is perhaps the most surprising selection, if only because many expected House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) to join Reps. Camp and Hensarling on the House delegation. Upton certainly has the credentials though. The 13-term congressman is a protégé of David Stockman, who served as OMB director during the Reagan administration, and currently serves as chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. However, Upton isn’t exactly a doctrinaire conservative, and aspects of his fiscal record certainly bear this out. For example, he:
-
Was one of only three Republicans to vote against extending the Bush tax cuts (on capitol gains and dividends) in 2005.
-
Was one of only nine Republicans to vote against an amendment to the 2009 stimulus bill offered by Rep. Dave Camp (R., Mich.) that would have replaced the Democratic bill with a Republican version composed entirely of tax cuts.
-
Was one of only eleven Republicans who voted for a 2004 Democratic budget resolution to make tax cuts subject to a 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
-
Voted for then-speaker Pelosi’s Omnibus Spending Bill for 2009, one of only 16 Republicans to do so.
-
Was one of a handful of Republicans who in early 2009 voted against a GOP effort to claw back stimulus funding.
-
Has voted multiple times to extend unemployment benefits, even when the extension has not been offset with further spending cuts.
-
Voted along with just 24 other Republicans to support the Democrats’ “pay-go” legislation in 2009.
-
Supported a huge spending increase in 2009 for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), financed through higher taxes. He also supported attempts to override vetoes from President George W. Bush on similar SCHIP-funding bill.
-
Was one of only twelve Republicans who voted for an amendment by Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.) that would have cut the defense budget by nearly $2.5 billion in 1995.
That said, Upton has maintained a pretty solid conservative record since being named Energy and Commerce chair in 2010, following leadership’s lead on most issues. Upton’s bid for that position was supported by the likes of Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform and Fred Barnes of The Weekly Standard. He has Paul Ryan’s backing, and both House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) have insisted that they would not appoint anyone to the committee who would consider raising taxes. Still, with a record like Upton’s, one could understand why conservatives might be a little nervous.
Given his record, one can easily imagine Upton voting with the Democrats for so-called ''revenue-enhancement or some other euphemism.'' If that occurs, Boehner and Ryan should be held accountable, the former for the appointment, the latter for endorsing him.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou forgot the part where he co-sponsored the bill that banned incandescent light bulbs.
"Still, with a record like Upton’s, one could understand why conservatives might be a little nervous."
ya think?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNot only did he help ban them, he broke his promise to support a repeal - a promise he made in order to get a committee chairmanship. Yes, the repeal came to a vote, but under conditions that would require a 2/3 majority to pass. The vote was 233-193...so Upton could CLAIM he tried to repeal the bill he co-sponsored, while actually making certain it died!
And now he is a member of the Gang of Twelve - a good, 'Red China' type name for what the debt ceiling bill bought us.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is the the kind of disappointing performance Republicans - and particularly Tea Partiers - have come to expect from Republican leadership in Congress. While Democrats choose six "can't get any more to the left" liberal spenders for the committee, Boehner picks the House version of Scott Brown, an independent-minded guy who goes out of his way to prove he's no "yes" man that toes the party line. Marvelous! I thought John Boehner liked his job as Speaker, but perhaps not, because if Upton does what his record indicates he's done in the past, it's gonna get ugly.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWithout regard to his record/votes on fiscal matters, his involvement in the light bulb fiasco (original bill and revocation introduced as an emergency so that 2/3's was required) is an absolute disqualifier.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou also forgot to list Upton's enthusiastic support for "Cash for Clunkers". The guy has never met a government program or tax hike he didn't like.
Epic failure of leadership by Boehner. What on earth was he thinking???
Captcha "ear mark"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDid this guy really just cite Upton's pedigree as a Stockman protege as proof of his conservative bona fides?
Talk about clueless.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUpton's the worst of the GOP picks. The other 5 are pretty good.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"That said" - you've already said a mouthful.
Boehner's appointed the "weak link."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnd "13-term"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere's the "flipper" of the 12. The only other candidate was Baucus, and he's more like Uncle Bernie, propped up there to do what he's told.
Wow. With a record like that, it's inconceivable he was selected. It matters quite little to he has Ryan's backing. In a way, Ryan is fairly responsible for this super-unconstitutional super-congress, by throwing his considerable muscle behind the compromise that created it, when his stalwart conservative leadership could have produced real results.
Tax increases are a certainty. Brought to you courtesy of Fred Upton.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePaul Ryan is an establishment Republican who talks good. That's all there is to it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf his selection means that we get to see more coverage of his lovely niece in the media then I am all for it...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHoly #@!@#. Someone please tell me this isn't as bad as it seems.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHouse Speaker John Boehner is a good man.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Trust but verify" - Ronaldus Magnus
Looks like we done got ourselves a maverick, pardners. Yep, he'll be reaching across that aisle real quick like, raisen' them taxes like you wouldn't believe, happy to ride them entitlements off into the sunset -- along with the rest of the country.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI feel like we're all waiting for a book to be released next spring, but John Boehner just showed us the last page today. How this story ends isn't a mystery to anyone who doesn't have the head firmly entrenched in their behind.
At the very least, it will be Upton that is going to cave. But at the end of the day, I suspect he'll be joined by another two Republicans, giving the Democrats absolutely everything they want - Huge defense cuts, big-time tax increases, superficial cuts to social programs and barely a glance at entitlements.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow reassuring! I was worried he was in on the whole restricting- manufacture-and-purchase-of-incandescent-lightbulbs thing. Whew!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat concerns me is this formerly moderate Republican transformed himself into a conservative in order to get the Energy & Commerce chairmanship.
Now that he's on this super committee, will Upton revert back to his moderate ways, with a history of voting against tax cuts and for more spending, or will he toe the conservative line?
I certainly hope that Boehner can keep him in check but I fear the worst of folks like Upton who are willing to change their positions for a committee chairmanship.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUpton "was one of only three Republicans to vote against extending the Bush tax cuts (on capitol gains and dividends) in 2005."
This ALONE should disqualify him. He is a taxer of productive capital and a punisher of those who save and invest.
HE is the problem. It is no accident that our nation went many Trillions more into debt and bankruptcy while he was serving in Congress, bankrupting the nation.
An absolutely terrible choice. We are watching GOP.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse