"The next eight years will be a Republican guy, regardless if it is Craddick or anybody else. And in order for them to be elected they need eight to 12 Democrats. They need eight to 12," Flores predicted. "So, what's wrong with saying I'll be one of those but you've got to help fund our medical school. I'll leave you all with that thought. Adios."
When Matt reported this yesterday, he complained, "Last summer I said specifically, any elected official who sides with Craddick is voting against their district. This is as true after the primary as it was before the primary, and Flores appears to be standing by Craddick and Republican Party."
Siding with Craddick is voting against your district because he leads in a way that clearly is not of any help to your district. But more on that later.
This still allows Mr. Flores to make the argument that he could feasibly vote for a Republican speaker and still be a competent Democratic legislator. This is entirely possible, but only under certain circumstances.
To all potential Craddicats of the future:
I will now outline what I think are two main criteria a competent Democratic legislator may use in casting his vote for speaker of the House.
1. If there is a significant chance of a Democrat being elected, vote for a Democrat.
I fully understand that good relations with the speaker will help you help your district. The thought's acceptable. But this should never exempt a Democratic representative from the above rule.
A) You should have good relations with all your fellow Democrats. If you don't, there is a problem.
B) Although a Republican speaker candidate might support a specific piece of legislation that a Democrat does not, the broad spectrum of policy supported by the Democrat will be better for your district than the broad spectrum of policy supported by the Republican. You stated your belief in this by joining the Democratic Party.
Kino Flores believes that the next 8 years will continue a Republican reign in the House. I hope the belief exists due to pessimism rather than what he finds practical. Most of us in the Burnt Orange community believe that Democrats will hold a majority in the House soon: if not in 2009, then 2011. If our hopes become reality, there is no excuse for Mr. Flores or any Democrat to vote for a Republican speaker.
Good arguments can be made, though, that 2009 will still see a Republican majority in the House. And surely, even if Democrats regain the legislative body, the party won't be in control forever. So here we need the next rule.
2. If there is not significant chance of a Democrat being elected, back a candidate who will allow Democratic Party values into the legislative process.
Phillip said it best earlier today, "We're not fighting to beat Tom Craddick. We're fighting to improve the lives of Texans across our state," and the Speakers race is only a battle on the war we wage for the good of our state.
It just so happens that Tom Craddick leads against our goal "to improve the lives of Texans across our state." He rules dictatorially, which certainly goes against our Democratic values of good government. And he votes against the issues we value so deeply for the sake of the general public. He may be giving Mr. Flores the funding for that medical school, but the rest of his decisions hurt House District 36 more than they help.
If you are forced to vote against a Democrat, you might be hard pressed to find a Republican who agrees with some of our Democratic values. It shouldn't be too hard to find, however, a Republican who would at least allow the legislature to act on its own. If we can't elect a fellow Democrat, we should at least elect a speaker that will allow us to fight for our ideas against their ideas; not a speaker who would make us fight sly legislative tricks.
I don't just want one benefit, like a medical school, in my district. I want health care in my district. I want high quality education in my district. I want clean air in my district. I want quality infrastructure in my district. I want a good life, as a whole, for my district.
I'll leave you all with that thought. Adios. |
