The art of being an effective legislative minority is knowing how to pick your fights. If that is the case, then Rep. Sal Pace is off to a bad start. The new House Minority Leader tried to turn a token move by Republicans to rename committees into his Waterloo.
Pace organized a few of his least charismatic caucus members to stage a debate over the minutia of committee names during the normally ceremonial opening day proceedings.
Oh, Sal. Good grief. This is your first big stand?
Give credit to Senate President Brandon Shaffer, who had the good sense to use the first 48 hours of the new session to draw lines over education funding. Agree with Shaffer or not (and we certainly don't), he has figured out how to use the bully pulpit to push his agenda and not just make noise.
It is a skill that John Salazar's protege Mr. Pace would do well to learn, and fast, before he sets off another round of Captiol chuckling at his expense.
if this is how the D’s take a stand it’s no wonder they lost the House. Very strategic…cut straight to the heart.
… that the new post is a bit out of Sal’s league. People close to him told him it was a bad idea to take a leadership role a year before he plans to announce his intentions to run for CD 3 in 2012. Nothing will look worse for his congressional bid when he does a crappy job as leader and then quits after one session to run for congress.
Looks like Pace isn’t quite sure what to do with his new power, or lack thereof!