Democratic Sen. Don McEachin, perhaps sensing that his caucus’ real reason for voting down both the House and Senate versions of the budget was a recipe for disaster, is now trying to change the narrative.
Senate Democrats aren’t in a snit over committee assignments and chairmanships. They are deeply troubled by the contents of the proposed budgets which, in McEachin’s view, don’t spend enough on education, transportation, health care and could really use some tax hikes for transportation (nevermind that the Senate approved an indexed gas tax hike earlier in the session).
And we should pay no attention to the amendments Democrats offered to the budget, only to vote against the entire document both in committee and on the floor.
And we must erase from our minds that the Democrats made it clear, from the beginning, that they intended to use the budget as leverage to gain power.
Senator McEachin can try to put whatever gloss he likes on the fiasco his caucus has created — one that could lead to a government shut down.
But let’s never forget that this is a fight Democrats sought, and McEachin’s remarks are an admission that things are going badly for them.
Update
Just to strip away a bit more of Sen. McEachin’s new narrative, using his own words:
Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Donald McEachin of Henrico said the Republicans will determine how long it takes for work on a budget to resume.
“When they decide they can’t run the government without us, that’s when the negotiations will begin,” he said.
And further undermining the Senator from Henrico’s new storyline, we have this from Democrat Chuck Colgan:
One tactic some Republicans had recommended in recent days was to grant the Democrats’ request for equal representation on the Finance Committee and appoint the Senate’s longest-serving member, Democratic Sen. Charles J. Colgan, as a co-chairman along with Republican Sen. Walter A. Stosch, R-Henrico.
Norment said the Democrats’ demands were much more extensive and dismissed the suggestion that power-sharing on the influential money committee would have won over Colgan.
Asked later if a co-chairmanship and the additional committee seats would have swayed his vote for the budget, however, Colgan said, “Probably. Yeah, probably so.”
In other words, give him a gavel, or at least let him share one, and he’s all yours.
Interesting, though, to see that some unnamed Republicans are suggesting handing over the keys to the Finance committee.
It leaves me with the nagging suspicion that “some Republicans” are willing to give in just as the fight is getting started.
