FAN 1-23-2007

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Senate Dems in Dissarray? Lieut. Gov. Ramsey has a Mole? House GOP Leader Mumpower Signals Willingness to Challenge Naifeh. The full story here...

In this issue:

Are Senate Democrats in Disarray?
Can it get any worse?
Sen Kurita - a mole for Speaker Ramsey or a thorn in his flesh?
Rep. Mumpower fires a shot over Speaker Naifeh's bow.
Things, they-are a-changin' -is the Goose cooked?

Things were fairly quite on The Hill this past week...which is the way it normally is before the storm.

But this week we felt the tremors from the "storm" the week before - the defection of Sen. Rosalind Kurita (D-Clarksville) from the Democratic ranks that for the first time in over a century put a Republican, Ron Ramsey, in the position of Speaker of the Senate and Lt. Governor.

Are Senate Democrats in Disarray?
Sen. Roy Herron (D-Dresden) was so upset that he called for a Democratic Caucus meeting so that the caucus could reconsider their not too distant past officer elections. There were questions in the minds of some as to whether Sen. Kurita should continue to her position in connection with candidate recruitments and the word on the street was that Sen. Herron thought he had 10 votes for him to be caucus chair, replacing Sen. Joe Haynes (Goodlettsville). A motion and a second were made to re-open the caucus elections. After more impassioned speeches than you'd ever want to listen to, the vote was 8-8 and the motion failed. So while nothing changes "officially,' the meeting itself was taken by many as a sign that the Senate Democrats are divided and in disarray.

Can it get any worse?
But the apparent finger pointing and down-the-middle-division over who was responsible for Sen. Kurita's defection - or at least her intent to defect being discovered - is not the only problem. Some Democrat's, including Democratic Leader, Jim Kyle (Memphis) have publicly said Sen. Kurita "broke trust" with him and her colleagues. This could present a larger and lingering problem than simply losing control of the Senate.

You may think, "What's the big deal. All politicians are liars?" But believe it or not, trust is of major importance in the Senate.

The Senate is a small body, and therefore the margin for error in obtaining a majority of the votes is smaller than in the House. You must be able to count your votes and know that those who say they are "with you" will really be with you. Further, if your caucus is opposing a measure championed by the other party, there must be confidence that internal caucus discussions about political "tactics" will be kept confidential.

Sen Kurita - a mole for Speaker Ramsey or a thorn in his flesh?
So, the question that will either consciously or unconsciously always be in the back of the minds of at least some Democratic Senators is whether discussions involving Sen. Kurita will end up in the ear of Speaker Ramsey. And whatever suspicion might naturally be there was heightened when the day after the Caucus meeting Sen. Kurita was named Speaker Pro Tem - by title the person "right below" Speaker Ramsey in "authority" over the Senate and with an office suite right next to Speaker Ramsey's.

Senate Republicans can appreciate the scene as two years ago it was one of their own, Mike Williams (R-Maynardsville) who crossed party lines to keep Sen. Wilder (D-Mason) in the position of Speaker and found himself Speaker Pro Tem. It's hard not to wonder who else is "listening in" vicariously to your conversations.

Speaker Ramsey says no "deal" was "cut" for Senator Kurita's vote, but don't try telling that to those disaffected by her vote. And further some might wonder if there was any "deal" that she would be Speaker Ramsey's eyes and ears at Democratic Caucus meetings?

But what can you do if you are a Senate Democrat? Undoubtedly to ostracize her is to risk a retaliatory defection down the road when the Caucus needs her to vote with them. So you hope for the best or you do what some House Republicans often did to avoid letting the "Naifeh Republicans" know what was going on - they went to dinner by themselves and discussed the issues of the day. Perhaps some in the Democratic caucus will take the latter approach.

But doesn't this "relationship" with Speaker Ramsey cut both ways? Isn't it possible that Senator Kurita will be in a position to tell the Democratic Leadership what Speaker Ramsey is up to? Couldn't she be a "mole" for her Party? And aren't Republicans mad that after 138 years the "second in command" position went to a Democrat? The answer to both questions is or should be "no."

First, under the rules, the Speaker Pro Tem only has such duties and responsibilities as are assigned by the Speaker. Speaker Ramsey has been very coy about what Sen. Kurita's "working" responsibilities will be. They well could be nothing other than to preside over the Senate on the Floor when Speaker Ramsey needs a break from the podium. And he certainly does not have to make her a confidant on anything he isn't willing to "let" the "other side" know. So, Sen. Kurita does not, by her position, have access to any more information than Speaker Ramsey wants her to have. And, being a Democrat, she is still not invited to the Republican Caucus meetings.

And it is for that very same reason most Republicans in the know are not upset over her appointment. If all she has is a title, then so what. Clouds without rain are not to be feared.

The one cause for concern, though, among Republicans is that the Speaker Pro Tem has traditionally been included in the weekly leadership meetings with the Governor and the House leadership. These meetings normally include only the Governor, the two Speakers and Speakers Pro Tem, and the Party Leaders and Party Caucus Chairs for both Houses. So, with Sen. Kurita's appointment, the Democrats do have another "voice" at the table and make no mistake about it, Sen. Kurita is not shy. And she still has a Democratic philosophy. In her run for the U.S. Senate, Sen. Kurita was quick to tell Democrats that she, not Harold Ford, was a true Democrat in terms of her politics.

How this all will work out is anyone's guess. Do the Democrats have in their midst a loyal Democrat who just really and truly thought Sen. Wilder didn't need to be Speaker anymore or do they have a "mole" whose presence will "alter" what gets said and done in Democratic Caucus meetings? Or, has Senator Ramsey misfired and brought "fire to his bosom," misjudging his ability to "control" Sen. Kurita and her ability to leverage her title to her benefit and his demise. Ah, won't this all be interesting to watch unfold?

Rep. Mumpower fires a shot over Speaker Naifeh's bow.

In a past edition, we had raised the question as to the approach newly elected House Republican Leader, Jason Mumpower, would take. Rep. Mumpower was seen by many to be the Republican Leader candidate preferred by Speaker Naifeh which is not usually seen as good sign for conservatives. But on the day when Speaker Naifeh announced his Committee Chairs and Committee assignments, Rep. Mumpower gave a strong speech to the effect that a "new day was coming:"

"Many [Democrats] also campaigned on similar promises of no new taxes, improving education, and putting an end to the problems caused by illegal immigration. We look forward to working with each of you, in a bi-partisan manner, to advance these conservative ideas. We will be bringing this legislation before your committees, Mr. Speaker and chairmen. And, we hope to have your support. ... House Republicans also look forward to working with our new leadership in the Senate, who will be strong partners with us in these efforts.... House Republicans have certainly had long experience with the old conditions of state government. But, a new dawn has risen and a new order of things is at hand. And I, on behalf of the House Republicans, am anxious and ready for the challenge of leading change and am confident in our success."

Shots across the bow do not sink a ship and the same was true here - no Republican was made an officer of any standing committee, not even the position of Secretary which is, as a practical matter, meaningless but looks good on your letterhead.

Of course, our organizational concern is not who chairs a Committee, but the philosophical make-up of the Committees. And in that regard, it looks like tough sailing again this year in the House on the committees where most bills affecting the family are assigned.

Things, they-are a-changin' -is the Goose cooked?
Lastly, the story is told of a certain well-known and influential lobbyist for the liquor industry known as the "Golden Goose." On the day of the Speaker's election, the Goose was apparently touting the success of his efforts to convince Sen. Jerry Cooper (D-Smart Station) to vote for Sen. Wilder for Speaker, notwithstanding Sen. Cooper's previous assertions that he would not do so. Lobbyist always like for those "in charge" to know how much they've helped them, especially when, as in the Goose's case, he was angling for an appointment by Speaker Wilder to the Board of the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency where he has served pretty much since God first made animals. The word is that Speaker Ramsey heard of the Goose's bravado in dooming Sen. Ramsey's then-pending bid for Speaker. Wonder if the Goose will get that re-appointment by the new Speaker or is the "Goose" truly "cooked?"