Monday, November 30th, 2009...7:08 am
What Was Weak Last Week
Busy week, what with Double-Plus-Extra-Special Session ending with a bit of a whimper. So, after the jump is my summary of items I didn’t quite get to last week:
Conservative blog Sonoran Weekly Review has a bit blasting Tom Boone for what are, at least, serious conflicts of interest in his activities as a school board member, an office he maintains in addition to his membership in the State House of Representatives. By the way, what is with conservative blogs appropriating the word “Sonoran”?
The Yellow Sheet reported that one of the reasons for Thayer Verschoor’s holding out last week was he wanted some money for some pet projects. This follows the pattern in the regular session where Verschoor held out for more than $20 million in transportation projects for the East Valley. I suppose I shouldn’t ding the guy for fighting for programs he likes and are good for his constituents. However, he’s been selling this as some sort of noble anti-government and anti-tax stance. I guess that sells better with the tea party crowd.
The Yellow Sheet also reported that the longer special session cost the state $15,000. They lay this on Verschoor for pulling his disappearing act. It pains me for saying this, but this is unfair to poor Thayer. What about the dysfunctional relations among our state’s “leadership” that brought about the need for the special session in the first place?
Last bit: after the the budget vote in the special session, Tlatoani Kirk Adams scolded Democrats for not voting for the budget fix. Come on, really? Not only did Adams not include Democratic members in discussions, it seemed that any proposal that stood a chance of getting Democratic support was struck for the reason that it might have Democratic support (witness Adams’s reaction to Bob Burns’s attempts to get Democratic votes). He didn’t want Democratic votes, and the Democratic caucus was happy to oblige. This is all on you and your caucus, Kirk. Take all the credit, take all the blame.
2 Comments
November 30th, 2009 at 8:14 am
He’s alway Thayer for you.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Adams to Democrats:
“This is what we decided. Now vote for it!”
At least Nancy Pelosi is smart enough that when she plays hardball she knows not to expect any Republican votes.
But then again, Nancy Pelosi is a stronger leader than the Republican leadership team in the legislature, she can count votes and keep enough of her own people in line when she needs them.