End Games
July 1, 2013 - by
Having bullied their foes all session, legislative Republicans now have turned to bullying each other. And Governor McCrory did what he does best: he left town.
As legislatures often do at the end of session, this one has deteriorated into disagreement, dissension and mutual disgust.
Chief Senate Bully Tom Apodaca took all House bills off the calendar. Most strikingly, he invited McCrory to butt out of negotiations. McCrory butted out, all the way out of town. He took no position on how to resolve the tax fight. He even declined to endorse Budget Czar Art Pope’s proposed solution.
This is the time when Governors should lead, not leave.
Governor Hunt, who was a master at legislative relations, had a rule about leaving Raleigh during legislative sessions: He didn’t. And, while legislators may not have always wanted him involved in final negotiations, they never publicly disinvited him.
Clearly, Republicans in the legislature don’t respect McCrory. He’s earned that lack of respect. He needs to learn that there is a fine line in politics between being seen as a regular guy – or a disengaged doofus (see: Bush, George W.)
End Games
July 1, 2013/
Having bullied their foes all session, legislative Republicans now have turned to bullying each other. And Governor McCrory did what he does best: he left town.
As legislatures often do at the end of session, this one has deteriorated into disagreement, dissension and mutual disgust.
Chief Senate Bully Tom Apodaca took all House bills off the calendar. Most strikingly, he invited McCrory to butt out of negotiations. McCrory butted out, all the way out of town. He took no position on how to resolve the tax fight. He even declined to endorse Budget Czar Art Pope’s proposed solution.
This is the time when Governors should lead, not leave.
Governor Hunt, who was a master at legislative relations, had a rule about leaving Raleigh during legislative sessions: He didn’t. And, while legislators may not have always wanted him involved in final negotiations, they never publicly disinvited him.
Clearly, Republicans in the legislature don’t respect McCrory. He’s earned that lack of respect. He needs to learn that there is a fine line in politics between being seen as a regular guy – or a disengaged doofus (see: Bush, George W.)