The Oldest Profession
2011-05-17 - by
Over in the State House Republicans hurrahed when five Democrats voted for Speaker Thom Tillis’ budget – at last it looked like Tillis had the votes to override one of Governor Perdue’s vetoes.
But flowers bloom then quickly fade.
Before the sun set the five Democrats made it perfectly clear to the press their votes for Speaker Tillis’ budget weren’t set in stone. Far from it. They might change. At any moment.
Instead of laying aside partisanship it seems these five Democrats were practicing the oldest profession on earth. Selling favors. Or in this case votes. And what these five Democrats got in return landed in the newspapers the next day.
One got a prison in his district. Another got lower ferry fares to Ocracoke Island (which is in his district). And so on. But that’s not all.
We are watching the start of a bidding war. Republicans have made the first bid. Next the five Democrats will go to Governor Perdue and say, Well, it looks like you need our votes too. And open the second round of bids.
And, of course, the Governor is going to match Thom Tillis and raise him and, after that, it’s safe to assume the five Democrats will discover they just can’t swallow the Republican cuts in education and vote to sustain the Governor’s veto.
Then the third round of bidding will begin; and it’s a safe bet before they’re done these five Democrats will have sold the same five votes three times – at least.
The Oldest Profession
2011-05-17/
Over in the State House Republicans hurrahed when five Democrats voted for Speaker Thom Tillis’ budget – at last it looked like Tillis had the votes to override one of Governor Perdue’s vetoes.
But flowers bloom then quickly fade.
Before the sun set the five Democrats made it perfectly clear to the press their votes for Speaker Tillis’ budget weren’t set in stone. Far from it. They might change. At any moment.
Instead of laying aside partisanship it seems these five Democrats were practicing the oldest profession on earth. Selling favors. Or in this case votes. And what these five Democrats got in return landed in the newspapers the next day.
One got a prison in his district. Another got lower ferry fares to Ocracoke Island (which is in his district). And so on. But that’s not all.
We are watching the start of a bidding war. Republicans have made the first bid. Next the five Democrats will go to Governor Perdue and say, Well, it looks like you need our votes too. And open the second round of bids.
And, of course, the Governor is going to match Thom Tillis and raise him and, after that, it’s safe to assume the five Democrats will discover they just can’t swallow the Republican cuts in education and vote to sustain the Governor’s veto.
Then the third round of bidding will begin; and it’s a safe bet before they’re done these five Democrats will have sold the same five votes three times – at least.