In the Austin-American Statesman’s “First Reading” John Tilove gave us the first glimpse of the conservative play that is likely to be performed in the House throughout the 83rd Legislature. He labeled Speaker Straus’s increased spending agenda, with no hint of government and spending reform, “conservative”.
Straus ‘s functionaries in the media are also lauding his neglect of social conservatism.
This is how a state is moved left with minimal notice. What used to be “liberal” is simply renamed “conservative”.
Tilove also fully adopted Rice professor Mark Jones’ quote about Speaker Straus’s increased power this session. It could be very wrong or very right, depending on the Speaker vote.
If the legislators who got elected as conservative Straus adversaries vote for David Simpson, Straus will have a very hard time doing whatever he wants. He will have a truth teller’s caucus that will keep his theater from coming off as reality, and Straus’s allies will be thinking about their fallen comrades from primary season. The same primary dynamics will be even stronger, and they will be scared. Conservative movements always take many cycles to be midwifed to power – winning now was never the least bit necessary.
If Simpson doesn’t force a floor vote, Straus’s power will indeed be increased, and he has already said that his agenda is across-the-board moderate liberalism.
This would be a strange move for Simpson’s allies to make, if not so much for Simpson.
Simpson’s opposition of Straus is very public. He can always imply that he was the only one strong enough to do the right thing. This will make him very strong in district.
His friends are the ones who are likely to pay for it. They have already embarrassed Straus, that much is done. They have already destroyed the possibility of trust with Straus.
What not getting a floor vote does is provide them none of the benefits of being a Straus ally while simultaneously having none of the benefits of being a Straus opponent. It will demotivate the people who create their conservative discount at home. It will be Sid Miller all over again – a conservative who was easy to beat when his grassroots got wind of his speaker compromise and largely removed themselves from the equation.
Obstacles along the way are always learning opportunities. No floor vote would be that, but a bitter one considering it was so very illogical and unnecessary.
At this stage, not long before the vote, things looks bad. But Simpson and company still have a very real choice, and it isn’t yet final.
The good news is that there no shortage of good legislation to support and bad legislation to oppose in the coming months. The grassroots have plenty of important things to do, even if they’re disappointed.