Monday, April 30th, 2007...9:46 pm
Lopez, Rios Throw in with the Republicans
I was suprised enough this weekend when I heard that Jim Weiers was going to attempt to present his own budget apart from his Senate counterpart and fellow Republican Tim Bee, but I was even more suprised when I heard rumblings that some Democrats were going to go along.
Well, it seems to have happened. Today, Reps. Pete Rios and Linda Lopez voted with the Republicans in committee to move Weiers’s budget forward. Between the two of them, they added four ammendments to the budget. Oddly, those amendments had been written in cooperation with Republican staff, and they refused to show them to Democratic staff. Further, the two of them reportedly promised the votes of six Democratic House members for the budget in return for the support for the ammendments.
What is particularly galling here is that it seems that they got very little out of this. The ammendments weren’t particularly earth shattering, and barely represent any sort of concession from the Republicans. As a matter of fact, since this budget is surely DOA in the Senate, one wonders if they will even end up in the final budget. The only thing they seemed to accomplish is givng Weiers the votes to pass this thing in the House without making him talk to moderates in his own party.
I’ve written about this split within the caucus before, and I’ve mentioned that I would understand this if it was over regional or ideological differences. I fail to see anything more than personality clashes behind this. The fact that these folks seemed to sell their souls for so little tells me that this has more to do with getting even than the good of their constituents.
As I said, Lopez and Rios have promised the votes of other Democrats in the full house: Olivia Cajero Bedford, Ben Miranda, Albert Tom and Manny Alvarez. Interestingly, neither Martha García nor David Bradley, who have been off and on members of the renegade faction, are reported to be among those who will vote for the budget. Hopefully, this means that the two of them have come to their senses about this silliness.
6 Comments
April 30th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
These guys are traitors for doing this. They need to be made to pay. If Pete Rios thinks he can get progressive support for a run at the CD-01 congressional seat, he better think again.
They need to be cut-off from party money and money from progressive groups (including unions), they need to be primaried, and all support for any future races should be withheld. Turncoats. Purge them. I am sick of the progressives being pissed upon by the so-called selfish “moderates.”
April 30th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Agree 1000% netroots. Purge him. Lopez is over after this anyways, its sad is soiled her name as a traitor in her last days.
Another NOTE should be said here Ted.
The money that paid for their pet projects came out of AHCCCS
So they fucking stole money from poor kids and poor families to pay for some pork project in their districts?
Republicans may take money from corporate and military interests but at least they don’t sell their votes for fucking nothing.
May 1st, 2007 at 12:10 am
Who’d a thunk:
I may have to email one of my representatives (Jack Brown) and congratulate him for NOT taking an opportunity to vote with the Republicans. There have been times in the past when Jack was the first guy off the boat.
May 1st, 2007 at 9:13 am
Anyone who lives in District 29 (Southwest Tucson) should call Rep. Linda Lopez to demand that she vote against the Republican House budget when it comes to the floor.
Her office number is 1-800-352-8404, Ext. 4089.
Anyone who lives in Districrt 23 (Pinal County and part of Maricopa) should do the same by calling Rep. Pete Rios at 1-800-352-8404, Ext. 5761.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:46 am
It’s fantastic how you guys are acting just like Republicans who wanted to purge their own. I’m glad to see you have your own Hershbergers in your party too. Good luck with your newly found election successes!
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:47 am
Billy Barue,
I’ll gladly trade you one of our turncoat moderates for Pete Hershberger. He’s a great guy. Hell, you could have two of em for all I care!
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