Senator Gordon Smith

I have a great respect for Gordon Smith. He's a career politician (although that doesn't earn my respect) who has spent many years as a Senator in Oregon, then in Washington DC. He doesn't have my respect because he is a Republican in a Blue state, although that's impressive. He doesn't have it because he persevered through the death of his son and turned it into a moment of victory, although I do respect him for it.
He ultimately gets my respect because he fights battles on principle. I'm not sure of all the ins and outs of the Medicare/Medicaid debate, or what's going on with the budgets in that area, but Smith does, and when he disagrees with Republican leadership in the House and Senate, he is not afraid to say so and lead an opposition.

The issue was Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance plan for low-income people. President Bush and Republican leaders wanted to impose new spending limits as part of a budget plan. But Smith thought the limits arbitrary. And he had the votes to stop them.

"I am brought here as a matter of conviction, conscience, passion, that in good times and bad, the people you don't abandon or put at risk are those who are most needy in our society," Smith said.

At Smith's urging, the Senate stripped a $14 billion mandatory spending cut, replacing it with an independent commission to identify cost-saving reforms. The measure won 52-48 last week, with six moderate Republicans and all 45 Democrats joining Smith in revolt.

But Smith's appeal to his colleagues' conscience didn't square with Republican plans to rein in federal spending. Although victorious, Smith risked retribution from party leaders as they moved to reconcile the Senate budget plan with that of the House.

What followed was a six-week odyssey that transported Smith through the highest levels of Washington power politics. In the end, colleagues and insiders said, Smith parlayed his position on the Finance Committee -- and the trust of peers -- to position himself as an indispensable broker on federal health care spending.

I don't agree with him on all issues where he crosses party lines, such as his not supporting drilling in arctic Alaska. But his willingness to cross that line when he feels he needs to means that when he isn't just playing politics, that when he supports the President, or a Republican platform idea, he really believes in it. What more could you ask for in your representative to the Senate of the United States.
Smith didn't want to stop reform of the programs, nor does he not believe in a limited budget, but he does believe that the programs do some good for those who cannot support themselves, and so he was against the indiscriminate budget cut that Republican leaders were about to impose on the programs. Smith instead lead the fight for a resolution that directed the Senate to target the cuts, instead of just generally cutting the budget. Smith figured he could cut 6 billion out of the program without reducing the benefits of the lowest income people.
Joining him were Senators Norm Coleman, R-Minn., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Arlen Specter, R-Pa.
He also put pressure on majority leader Frist:

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., had opposed Smith's amendment. But once it passed, Frist was responsible for clearing a budget with the House. Frist harbors presidential ambitions, and failure could doom his hopes in 2008.

The two quickly worked out their own deal. Frist would represent Smith's interests faithfully in dealing with House leaders and the administration. Smith would work only through Frist, resisting other avenues to compromise.

I'm more impressed with Smith, who by showing that he can put pressure on Frist without suffering much political sway, is proving that he is going to be a major influence and leader in congress for some time to come.
Oregon's stock just went up in the Senate.