Soooo… after 16 years of Republican governors, it sounds like some legislators feel like they missed out on the gravy train:
Patrick sent invitations this week to the lawmakers to gather in the State House, where he plans to serve a meal and face a roomful of state legislators in an unusual, closed-door meeting with the Democrat -dominated House and Senate.
“Gratuitously hostile” is the way one Patrick supporter in the Legislature described the reaction by some of his colleagues.
… State Representative David P. Linsky, a Democrat from Natick, attributed the grumbling to a handful of malcontents.
“It’s not fair to draw any conclusions” from their complaints, he said. “I think that, privately, most of the 200 members think they should get a high appointment in Patrick’s administration.”
Well, the tension between the New Sheriff In Town and the old guard — whomever that is, besides Travaglini — is just about the worst-kept secret in the world. If you needed any more foreshadowing that a Patrick administration would not mean business-as-usual, I think this is it. Specifically, legislators ought to be worried about the more porkilicious earmarks; Patrick has merely said he supports greater transparency in the budget, — but that can’t be good news for the gazebo industry.
That being said, no one seems to want to come out front and be negative, certainly not after Patrick and Travaglini made nice last weekend. Lawmakers willing to be quoted are all positive. And no Dutch treat for Patrick: “Officials said that Patrick picked up the tab for lunch.” Wise move. Now they owe him one.
Or will Deval serve them fil mignon? I suggest the file, at least that way when they realize the jib is up, they get a nice meal out of it. That’ll help remove the sour taste from their pork-laden mouths. And we’ll win more progressive landmarks =)
‘Well, the tension between the New Sheriff In Town and the old guard — whomever that is, besides Travaglini — is just about the worst-kept secret in the world.”
<
p>
This is tension all within the same team. Everyone wants playing time. Did you read what linsky said?
<
p>
nothing to do with new sheriff in town.
<
p>
jeez
There’s so much hostility on this board towards the legislature! You’d never guess that those reps and senators were actually elected by the people, just like Deval was elected by the people. Hey, I’m as big a Patrick supporter as most folks on here, but I’m also a supporter of my local legislators. I want to see the new administration work with them -not just pack all 200 of them into a room for a quick lunch and “receiving line” before his vacation (and apparently send the invitations for it one day beforehand!). I hope he makes some time to meet individually with as many of them as possible for substantive one-on-ones. I want a parternship in my government.
Isn’t that what these various articles have been describing as emanating from the legislature? It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to know that the various reporters are hearing a lot of carping off-the-record. And of course, it took absolutely zero reading between the lines to understand Travaglini loud and clear last week.
<
p>
Look, I’d love a partnership, too. I think there will be one. But it’s naive to think there won’t be some serious turf battles. Many of these folks have carved out nice roles in the last 16 years, and got pretty comfortable not having to deal with someone who pulls the agenda in a different direction, not to mention the fact that he’s bringing all the rabble into the room with him (to mix a metaphor).
<
p>
Won’t the budget negotiations be fun?
would be that legislators realize how much credit they would be able to claim back home for (a) bringing local-aid bacon to their communities and (b) whatever property-tax relief is possible.
<
p>
Much bigger and broader prize than a few earmarks.
<
p>
I’m not saying that will happen, but I see how it could.
This isn’t an us verse them thing. This is completely different.
This is about the reps and senators who supported Deval and now are mad because they are not on the inside. This isn’t a sal and trav v. deval.
<
p>
Rather this is
“I supported you so here is my list. I want… I want…. I want… I want”
<
p>
Royal pains in the asses with huge huge egos. And these are people that supported him.
I don’t think it’s a Gov. vs. Legislature dynamic anymore. Much as some might want that dynamic to continue.
<
p>
I predict there’ll be a third party at the table. And, that’s us. We were invited in during the gubernatorial campaign, and I don’t see us leaving.
<
p>
Sure, it’s going to take some new organizing tools; and it’s going to have to be done with intent. But, if Howard Dean and Deval Patrick really meant that this is about us — and I truly believe they were both serious — than governing is going to need to be (at least in great part) about us too. Or inclusive of us.
<
p>
I’m aware of efforts to keep the grassroots campaign networks alive and viable, shifting from political campaign mode to bottom-up issues advocacy mode. With the intent of keeping in close touch with a new governor who wants that. Not in a lobbying way, or a threatening way, but in a partnership way.
<
p>
So, if we can figure out a way to stay at the table, then the old Gov. vs. Legislature dynamic is pretty much out the window. I’ve seen it happen on Boards of Directors when consumers/clients are added. That addition keeps everyone better focused on what’s really important, and what’s in the community’s best interest.
<
p>
New; different; maybe radical; maybe impossible, or at least really difficult. But, this is a new dynamic that I think the community has the tools to bring into being, if there’s facilitative leadership at the local level.
<
p>
Let’s see. We’ve been yammering for some time about “taking our government back.” Now that we appear to have done some of that, what’re we going to do with it? Hopefully, something important.
I think a lot of people want it to be Deval vs. the Legislature. Liberals are so used to being outraged that some don’t seem to know how to stop. They campaign against an opponent, and not for someone. It’s looking more and more that a significant population was not Deval Patrick, but were simply against the existing order. So they’ll pick any target — a reporter, a legislator, people working for universal health-care, former candidates, future candidates — anyone to target. It’s like the right’s own parody of us.
<
p>
We’re seeing a lot of sore winners here.
I think you should re-examine what I’ve been reacting to. In the last two weeks we’ve heard Travaglini blow up in public and we’ve heard off-the-record legislators complaining bitterly about how mean ol’ Deval Patrick hasn’t let them play ball in the transition and the new bureaucratic roles. Who’s sore?
<
p>
We don’t know how many legislators are pissed off, and I think my post properly took into account the fact that several legislators dispute that there’s a generalized hostility.
<
p>
“It’s looking more and more that a significant population was not [for] Deval Patrick, but were simply against the existing order.” You’re partly right: It isn’t about Deval Patrick. It’s about what he and the legislature are able to accomplish.
“I predict there’ll be a third party at the table. And, that’s us.”
<
p>
I don’t think so.
Cape Cod has no more chance of seeing property tax relief than I have of replacing Ted Kennedy in a unanimous vote. And yet, Len worked tremendously hard to continue the export of tax dollars from the ‘wealthy’ Cape to Deval’s main voter base, the cities, with NO foot on the brakes.
<
p>
Thanks, Len!
saying the only problem is local spending, hence the solution must be there.