I think of myself as a politically aware citizen, so I read Herald political reporter, Jerry Cornfield’s comments about the political scene in Snohomish County and Olympia to get his take on “what’s happening” so I’ll know how and where my ideas go off into the ditch.
Today, Mr. Cornfield is extolling the power and clout of House Speaker Frank Chopp. Cornfield says that at this late date in the legislative session, Speaker Chopp is finally preparing to step onto the stage and be some sort of legislative magic man Democrats and Republicans have been waiting for to deliver “the word” that miraculously closes the $5 billion budget gap.
Cornfield’s article says that Speaker Chopp is the man that controls the timing and the substance of negotiations regarding the all important budget. According to Cornfield, Speaker Chopp is The Wizard behind the curtain.
Jerry Cornfield has been around long enough to know a thing or two about how the legislature works so I wouldn’t suggest he is full of it, I will assume he might be on track. If that is the case, then when all is said and done, Speaker Chopp will receive all the credit or take the blame for the product when a budget is finally revealed.
It says a lot about the legislative process when that much power is invested in one guy.
According to Cornfield, nobody takes a breath, nobody says a word and nobody makes a decision without Frank Chopp giving his blessing. That must mean the man with all the power has all the answers too. It must be very satisfying to Speaker Chopp to be so smart and powerful while everyone else looks to him for guidance.
Isn’t that what’s wrong with the political process these days? According to Cornfield 146 state lawmakers are waiting for “the word” from Chopp. What does that say about those other 146 elected officials? Are they “Chopp-ed Liver” or what?
Cornfield thinks crunch time is Chopp’s finest hour. So what has the Speaker been up to for the first two months of the session if these closing eleventh hour days are his time to shine?
Wouldn’t it have been a good idea to have hearings or something to give folks a chance to offer testimony? (Why bother when us common folk aren’t smart enough to understand the complexity of the budget and it would be a waste of everyone’s time?) I suspect the Republicans have some suggestions, but I doubt Speaker Chopp is asking for them.
Speaker Chopp’s process is strangely similar that of Democrats in the US Congress. Wait till the last minute then dump a budget we have to pass before we can talk about it.
After last year’s late stage bomb shells with huge tax increases to close the gap, Tim Eyeman’s “No Tax or Fee Increase” Initiative really puts the hurt on the team that usually closes the gaps with tax and fee increases. Fortunate for us this year, that wand is not in the magic tool box so it will be interesting to see how the wizard pulls this one out.
According to Mr. Cornfield’s article today, there will be a caravan of interest groups rallying in the capitol this coming week. They all know there is no money in the pot but they are coming anyway. They are coming to remind the wizard that his power comes from their members. Cornfield said that Chopp would not be meeting with them. He will hear them though. If I were Chopp, I don’t think I would want to meet with them either.
The problems we face in our state require all 146 members of the legislature contributing to the process offering ideas and negotiating solutions.
If Speaker Frank Chopp is as powerful as Jerry Cornfield suggests then he must speak for all the members of his party. They may be talking amongst themselves but they aren’t talking to their constituents. What does that say about the job those other members are not doing?
I only hope taxpayers and voters in our state are watching and listening to the Democrats and their Wizard when they spring their budget on us so when they mark their ballots next time they will not be buffaloed by the big voice behind the curtain.
No Loss for Words 
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