Threats at the Capitol

by
Zack Stephenson
Published on February 25, 2008 at 12:45 pm
, filed in General
.

A well placed source at the Capitol confirms to us what Joe Bodell reported this morning…

Later in the weekend, a Capitol source indicated that the GOP House leadership is going even further: the source indicated that at least one moderate GOP representative seen as a strong possibility to join the DFL on the override vote was threatened with the removal of staff resources at the Capitol — media, research, constituent services, all would be removed except for the member’s legislative assistant. It is unclear whether the minority caucus would even have such authority, but the message from GOP leadership to its more moderate members, if true, is clear — vote with us or else.

Pressure from the leadership is par for the course at the Capitol, but this strikes seasoned Legislative watchers as a bit extreme. Are these scare tactics good for Minnesota? Are they good for the House GOP? How much pressure can they put on Tinglestad before she pulls a Jeffords and jumps ship?

There is a closed caucus at noon and the House will go into session right after that.

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2 Responses to “Threats at the Capitol”

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  1. 1 1 Kerosene Hat
    February 25, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    Maybe if Democrats had had a little backbone like this on a national level some of the Presidents more nasty legislation wouldn’t have passed. How you feel about this comes down to what you think of the transportation bill.

    Politically it would be best for Republicans to let this one get through despite their opposition. The increases in taxes would be immediate but because there will be no bonding for transportation the benefits will be delayed for years. It also means a massive tax increase on middle class suburban swing voters right before the election. Pawlenty can say he did whatever it took to stop the biggest tax increase in Minnesota history but they didn’t have enough votes. You couldn’t ask for better campaign material than that.

  2. 2 2 Bob Collins
    February 25, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Question: Why doesn’t someone file a bill to allow a vote to repeal the portion of the constitution that funds transportation? That’s a provision that — since it dedicates funds to roads and bridges — that clearly benefits roads and bridges. So why not threaten with the possibility of a repeal movement?

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