Peter Welch has succeeded in proactively assembling a bipartisan caucus of Representatives from states affected by Tropical Storm Irene. The caucus has moved (with blinding speed) to position itself in opposition to Eric Cantor’s position that all disaster relief must be offset with yet more cuts to social programs.

Republican New Jersey Governor Christie last week came out in opposition to using much-needed federal help to devastated areas for political advantage by holding them hostage to the tea party agenda. That was enough to opem fissures within the GOP on Cantor’s unprecedented proposal. Welch wisely and deftly used the opportunity to take the initiative within the House, hopefully creating an infrastructure to scuttle any attempt by Cantor to follow through on his threats. The coalition is mostly Dems, but includes 9 Rs (Note that Sen. Brown of Mass. is labeled a Dem… whoops…. h/t farjas) – not enough to make a “clean” vote on aid a slamdunk by any means, but enough to start taking a meaningful stand in the crazy current House. This is from the press release:

“Hurricane Irene was an act of God. It will take an act of Congress to ensure that families and businesses slammed by this powerful storm get back on their feet,” Welch said. “Natural disasters know no political boundaries; they are indiscriminate in where they strike. America has a long and proud tradition of coming to the aid of fellow Americans who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in harm’s way. This bipartisan Coalition will hit the ground running to ensure that our constituents and districts recover from this catastrophe.”

…Over thirty offices were represented at today’s meeting, including Reps. Welch (D-Vt.), Pelosi (D-Calif.), Hoyer (D-Md.), Larson (D-Conn.), Cantor (R-Va.), Tonko (D-N.Y.), Butterfield (D-N.C.), Pascrell (D-N.J.) Lance (R-N.J.), LoBiando (R-N.J.), McCarthy (D-N.Y.), Runyan (R-N.J.), Jones (R-N.C.), Ackerman (D-N.Y.), DeLauro (D-Conn.), McIntyre (D-N.C.), Olver (D-Mass.), Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Smith (R-N.J.), Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Scott (D-Va.), Hayworth (R-N.Y.), Sarbanes (D-Md.), Nadler (D-N.Y.), Langevin (D-R.I.), Marino (R-Penn.), Hanna (R-N.Y.), Grimm (R-N.Y.), Holt (D-N.J.), Meeks (D-N.Y.), Fattah (D-Penn.) and Sens. Brown (D-Mass.) and Warner (D-Va.).