Fwd: [DemocraticResearch] Castillo: GOP enforcers out to cannibalize moderate brethren over votes

Jaime Castillo: GOP enforcers out to cannibalize moderate brethren over votes

Web Posted: 11/19/2005 12:00 AM CST

San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/MYSA111905.03B.Castillo.20c17a96.html

Silly you.

If you thought that the state's political leadership would try to build a better
mousetrap after the colossal failure of the Legislature this year to fund public
schools and cut property taxes, think again.

The Republicans who control everything at the Capitol, from the Governor's
Mansion to the House cloakroom, apparently don't think that they need to change
their
my-way-or-the-highway mentality.

Instead, they think the best way to ensure passage of future GOP legislation is
not to pick off some Democrats to increase their majority in the House, but to
cannibalize some of their own members.

According to the El Paso Times, the border city's biggest GOP muckety-mucks are
"abandoning nine-term state Rep. Pat Haggerty and throwing their political
muscle and money behind his GOP challenger."

The same story also quoted state Rep. Carter Casteel, a moderate Republican from
New Braunfels, who said she has been the subject of a push poll designed to
gauge how deep her support is in the district.

The calls, which she said were received by some constituents, including her
husband and one of her sons, were an automated effort from the Texas Republican
Party.

So what political crime did Haggerty and Casteel commit? They had the temerity
to join 12 other Republicans in
supporting an alternative education plan
proposed by Democrats in the second special legislative session this summer.

The trend is worrisome to moderate Republicans in the House, who believe the
party may cut off its nose to spite its face by targeting fellow GOP brethren
solely because they cast one or two votes against the party line.

"For those of us who helped build the Republican Party, we hope that whoever is
behind these efforts remembers that we did so by addition, not subtraction,"
said state Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.

"If those reports are accurate," he said, referring to Haggerty and Casteel,
"then it would appear that some people in our party need to go back to
elementary school to re-learn simple arithmetic."

Straus, who hails from one of San Antonio's most prominent families, should
know.

He got crosswise with the party leadership, particularly Gov. Rick Perry, in
July by joining 12
other Republicans to vote against a major tax bill, known as
House Bill 3.

But he is unapologetic, saying, "I'm going to continue to vote my conscience and
my district as long as I'm in the Legislature."

Straus' candor is more impressive, considering that he is a first-term member,
not a veteran lawmaker who needs not fear retribution. But he truly believes
that the party has risen to power by being more inclusive.

"If I broke a few eggs in my first session, so be it," Straus said.

"I don't think I did it in a fashion that should have irritated any of the
leadership."

Straus, who is planning a large fundraiser at the home of Valero Energy Corp.
executive Greg King on Dec. 7, appears safe.

His performance during his first session and his family's influential
connections make him very difficult to beat should he draw an opponent next
year.

And he hopes the same goes for the other "mavericks"
in his party, including
Haggerty and Casteel.

"I don't think any of them are running scared," he said.



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Political Editor Jaime Castillo's column appears on Saturdays.

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          Regards, TOM BLACKWELL, PO Box 25403, Dallas, Texas 75225
                   http://pages.sbcglobal.net/tom.blackwell/

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