(Washington, D.C.) – The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition has established an Innovation, Capital Markets, and Financial Services Task Force, co-chaired by Congressman Tim Mahoney (FL-16) and Congressman Dennis Moore (KS-03).

“The Blue Dogs are strongly committed to fiscal responsibility, and to making sure U.S. capital markets and the financial services industry are the most innovative and competitive in the world,” Congressman Dennis Moore, Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy said. “I am proud to co-chair this important Blue Dog Task Force with Congressman Tim Mahoney, a leader on business and innovation issues. With our Blue Dog colleagues, we will look closely at how to improve and encourage innovation and job growth in our economy through effective public/private partnerships and efficient regulation.”

“This task force demonstrates the Blue Dogs’ commitment to ensuring that America maintains its leadership position in a global economy. Blue Dogs are recognized as leaders in helping shape policy that encourages investment in America’s future. This task force will focus that commitment on developing policies that encourage capital formation and investment in America’s next generation technologies and the industries they will spawn,” said Congressman Tim Mahoney. "It is critical that Blue Dogs take leadership on this issue as the policies of the Bush Administration have left many middle class Americans behind. We need to embrace the new economic reality that the only way for all Americans to prosper is through investment in the American people's ingenuity and their dreams."

Membership in the task force includes: Michael Arcuri (NY-24), Melissa Bean (IL-08), Dan Boren (OK-02), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Lincoln Davis (TN-04), Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Kristen Gillibrand (NY-20), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Patrick Murphy (PA-08), David Scott (GA-13), Heath Shuler (NC-11), John Tanner (TN-08), and Charles Wilson (OH-06).

The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing 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. Currently there are 47 members of the Blue Dog Coalition. For more information, visit the Blue Dog website at http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/.