With the President's FY 2007 budget soon to be released, the House must still take one more vote on the FY 2006 budget cuts bill it struggled with for almost all of last year, and some moderate Republicans are starting to break out of the stranglehold of party loyalty. Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT), who initially voted against the cuts, then voted for them in December, has announced today that he has re-evaluated his position again and will vote against the bill on Feburary 1.

Simmons' office released the following Kerry-esque statement:

I opposed the original House budget in November because I knew it could be, and should be, improved. The budget that was drafted in the House-Senate Conference was a better budget and I voted for it in December.

Since then I have met with and listened to a wide range of constituents - including AARP, American Federation of Teachers, Connecticut Voices for Children, labor unions and radiologists-regarding the details of the proposed changes. The consensus is that the bill, despite the improvements, remains unsatisfactory. Consequently, I have decided to vote against the budget on February 1.

Representation is only effective if the elected official listens to the people. In a democracy the government must serve the people, not reign over them. I have listened and concluded that the budget, as it stands, falls short.

It's encouraging to know that citizen participation in the legislative process actually can make a difference. Kudos to Rep. Simmons for keeping his ears open to the cries of the public interest and not towing the party line.