Meet Republicans’ Favorite House Liberal

[cali]

With one of the safest seats in Congress, Vermont’s lone Representative, Peter Welch, could be easily forgiven if he gave up on trying to get anything done and joined in the partisan bickering that’s come to define the House.

Welch is most definitely a liberal, and an unapologetic one at that. And House Democrats — fighting to take back the House in 2014 — generally have little incentive to work across the aisle as Republicans are still trying to manage their fractured conference more than two years after they took control. But the soft-spoken Vermonter has taken a different route and gone out of his way to befriend GOP members.

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Beyond parochial concerns, Welch has found himself signing on to plenty of Republican measures where their principles intersect, especially when it comes to avoiding or ending overseas conflict, helping rural and farming areas, and reining in government spying programs.

As more libertarian-minded Republicans have come to Congress, Welch has said it’s been a natural fit to work with them on issues like foreign intervention or civil liberties. He’s teamed up with a number of GOP members, including Gibson and Michele Bachmann to oppose intervention in Syria. Welch is a strong supporter of House efforts, like those led by Rep. Justin Amash, to shrink the National Security Agency’s ability to collect data on civilians.

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Welch is steadfastly liberal on issues like gay marriage, abortion rights, and is an advocate for single payer health care. He acknowledges the “tectonic” differences between Democrats and Republicans but said he’s seen a growing effort in the House to try and find agreement when it’s there. Welch co-chairs the “No Labels” group in the House — a coalition comprising 70 members who identify themselves as “problem solvers.” A lot of these members hail from districts where it’s maybe more politically advantageous to be seen as a reach-across-the-aisle kind of politician. But Welch, who safely holds his seat, says even members who aren’t at risk of losing their seats are just as frustrated with Washington as he is.

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http://www.buzzfeed.com/katenocera/meet-republicans-favorite-house-liberal

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Kudos to anyone getting something positive done in this Congress.

I've seen reports recently that Grayson is getting more done than anybody else in Congress these days. Democrats and Republicans have different solutions to problems, but they don't have to loathe each other personally. All I ask is that they do what they can; there is some common ground on some very important issues.

[cali]

2. I really like Welch. He's my rep and he had a hard act to follow- Bernie

I really dig his style as well as his substance. He's as progressive as anyone in the Congress and he works effectively within the constraints of the House. He also has plum committee assignments.