Capitol Alert has confirmed (they have the advantage of being IN the Capitol, not in Orange County) that this morning, as anticipated, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines has announced he is quitting his post.
But he didn’t announce that he is leaving today — but he is departing at the end of the month. That’s in just a few weeks, so no big deal, right?
Well, MAYBE.
To be honest, I am not really too caught up in whether the actual change in position happens now or in 24 days.
What I am focused on are two things — one very significant, and the other important, but not as significant (given the limited time window up Villines’ chosen date to step down).
The significant question, given the severity of the state’s fiscal crisis as a result of overspending, is from today forward, who is the point person for Assembly Republicans in providing leadership on this issue? If a "Big 5" (have I mentioned how much I hate the Big 5?) were called into a special meeting tomorrow to discuss potential issues as a result of the May election results, who attends? Villines, the lame duck leader? Or Blakeslee, the Leader-Elect?
If there is a clear understanding that Villines is being afforded a few more weeks in his office as a "courtesy" — well, that’s fine. He can have a few weeks of speech making at receptions, and bigger digs in the big building.
But if Villines is going to continue to represent Assembly Republicans substantive policy matters — frankly I think that is wrong. Not to beat a dead horse, but my objections are personal — they are pragmatic. It is important that, like what took place among Senate Republicans, that the Governor, Senate President Steinberg, and Assembly Speaker Bass understand that we have had a game-changing substitution, as of THIS MORNING. Taxes are off the table, and the people that negotiated those tax increases are NO LONGER AT THE TABLE.
As for the significant but less-so issue — the sooner that the Assembly Republican Communications Team has the political freedom to start painting the February budget deal, in the rear-view mirror, as an example of poor public policy, the better. We need to distance our party from what was a budget deal that was in all ways bad.
The process — bad. The deal itself — bad. The taxes — bad. The attempt to fool the voters with legislative approval of deceitfully vague title and summary of the real effects of 1A.– bad. The giving in the legislative blackmail and placing an open primary measure on the ballot that, if passed, will certainly lead to future legislatures that will raise taxes — bad.
Okay, I am done venting now.
The bottom line — I think a smooth and orderly transition between Republican Leaders is good — and three weeks is a fine timeline. It is just important to transition certainly responsibilities earlier rather than later.
P.S. I just got off of the phone with a GOP Assemblymember who confirmed that Sam Blakeslee was elected as the new leader.