Can Democrats Speak Without Blaming Republicans?
I read with interest statements made by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate (also known as the Lt. Governor). First, here is what Phil Bryant said:
“Of course I am disappointed with the adjournment of the Legislature. But the magnitude of these budget challenges are real. I cannot and will not build a budget on revenue that does not currently exist. I will not build a budget that anticipates the governor making cuts in the new fiscal year. And lastly, I will not build a budget that spends all the money we have now and not prepare for even more turbulent financial times facing us in 2011 and 2012. Those are principles I stand for and I will not abandon them even in the face of criticism.”
Bryant took the time to once again reiterate his position, when I suppose he could have taken the easy road and said it’s all Billy McCoy’s fault.
And for the easy road…here is what McCoy said:
“For three decades I have earned a reputation in government as a tough negotiator advocating my position but always open to compromise. In recent years I have learned that the word ‘compromise’ no longer belongs in the vocabulary of Gov. Barbour and the Senate negotiators he appears to manipulate. Capitulation does not belong to mine.”
I suppose it was easier to run the show when you controlled 80 or 90 percent of the seats in the House and Senate. Not anymore. Maybe before the Speaker criticizes others for not compromising, he needs to look in the mirror.
Majority in MS
6/4/9
