Saturday, January 6th, 2007...7:47 am
Arizona’s Veteran Democrats Move Up
Both Raúl Grijalva and Ed Pastor are now part of the Democratic Party’s whip organization in the house. Pastor is a deputy whip, and Grijalva is a senior whip. I have no idea if either one of these titles comes with a badge.
Pastor is close to newly elected Democratic whip James Clyburn. Clyburn has also voiced an interest in putting more minority members into leadership positions.
Grijalva has also moved up from second vice-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to first vice chair (the site has not been updated yet to reflect the new leadership). He was elected in a contentious meeting last November, where there was a revolt by nearly the entire female membership of the caucus against Joe Baca, who ran for chair. Grijalva has the respect of both sides in that still smoldering fight. Should there be more dissatisfaction with Baca (there was a fight last year over his leadership of the group’s electoral arm), then look for Grijalva to move up.
NB - Couple of related notes: Clyburn this week was concerned about the symbolism being handed an actual whip by outgoing Majority Whip Roy Blunt. They found a way around this though.
The interesting thing about the dispute in the Hispanic Caucus is that it seems to cut down regional lines: the women angry at Baca, a Texan, are all from California except for Nydia Velázquez. The one female who supports Baca is Grace Napolitano, who represents California but was born in Brownsville.
Baca has done a remarkable thing: he’s got Hilda Solís, Loretta Sánchez and Lucille Roybal-Allard working together. If you don’t know why that is remarkable, you haven’t been following Southern California politics.
7 Comments
January 6th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Joe Baca is not a Texan. He represents San Bernardino. The dispute is because of Baca’s anti-choice (as well as some others) position.
January 6th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
So wait, did “Don Grijalva” move ahead of Pastor? Or am I just reading that wrong?
January 7th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Does anyone know what other committees that Giffords has been assigned other than Armed Forces?
January 7th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
kralmajales,
No. Everyone is depending on YOU to keep CD8 up to date on the latest happenings with your idolized representative.
January 7th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
That is strange Liza, I depend on Ted for all of my Arizona Political updates especially the stuff in the southern end of the state.
January 7th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Happy New Year Liza and nice to see you again.
January 7th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
I could be wrong, Tom-Az, but I think a Deputy whip is a higher office in leadership than a senior whip. It would make sense given that Pastor has more seniority and all. However, I could be wrong and things could be a changin.
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