Epic Miscalculation Prompts Three Moderate Democrats to Bolt, Throwing Control to GOP – Hasn't Happened in 25 Years
A decision by Senate Democratic leaders to shut minority Republicans and moderate members of their own party out of the budget-writing process ended in an epic backfire Friday night, as three moderates bolted and threw control of the chamber to the GOP.
Democrats fired back with delaying tactics that initially threatened to keep the Senate in session all night, but it appeared clear that Republicans had the upper hand and would be able to pass a GOP-written budget in the Legislature’s upper chamber. Democrats ultimately acknowledged defeat, and Senate continued to meet late Friday night to pass the bill.
The move by Democratic Sens. Jim Kastama, Tim Sheldon and Rodney Tom to join with Republicans in a procedural motion was an historic vote on a scale with the Legislature’s decision last month to permit gay marriage in the state of Washington. The last time anything like it happened was 1987.
Do read the whole thing. The part labeled "Dems Say the Darndest Things" is especially ironic, and worth the time.
And.....I want to say THANK YOU to those senators who care more about the state than their party. That's a rare thing these days.
(Headline gratefully swiped from TheD Man)
