WASHINGTON — Being a Democrat from staunchly Republican Utah, U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, is accustomed to being in a minority.

Good thing, because he's now been unanimously elected a leader among a minority group of minority Democrats.

Matheson was chosen Wednesday night as the co-chairman for administration of the so-called Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of 34 fiscally conservative Democrats known to buck their own party and spend-happy Republicans alike.

"I am really excited to be chosen," Matheson said. "It is the most cohesive caucus in Congress and the most substantive."

Matheson was one of five leaders chosen by the caucus, to which he has belonged since being elected to Congress in 2000.

Anyone can apply for membership, but candidates must undergo rigorous vetting to ensure they have the fiscal credentials to wear the Blue Dog tag. They must agree to a strict set of bylaws and then be voted in by at least two-thirds of the current Blue Dog pack.

"It's not overly exclusive, but it is rigorous and it's a necessary process that makes us cohesive and substantive," Matheson said.

Blue Dogs have been known throughout the years as social moderates and fiscal conservatives. In fact, the caucus is singularly focused on correcting the spiraling federal deficit, Matheson said.

"We have been front and center on this (deficit) and no one else is coming up with a plan to get us out the ditch," he said.

The Blue Dogs typically put forward their own budget and Matheson expects the caucus will again propose a budget geared toward balancing the budget. Matheson was co-chairman of the Blue Dog Budget Task Force in the current Congress.

There will be fewer Blue Dogs howling in next year's 109th Congress. The numbers have dropped from 38 to 34, thanks to Republican redistricting in Texas.

"It's not just the 34 members, but it's the credibility the Blue Dogs have for being straightforward and honest" that gives the caucus clout on Capitol Hill, Matheson said.

Matheson currently sits on the Transportation, Financial Services and Science committees.

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