Senate Dems’ Big Agenda at Retreat
Senate Democrats will meet Sunday through Tuesday in a retreat at Ross Bridge in Hoover. Lt. Governor Jim Folsom will be in attendance for part of the retreat as will members of his staff.
Sources acknowledge that there is a formal agenda and an informal agenda. Formal agenda items will include training on topics like media relations and perhaps preparing for the expected special session.
As for the informal agenda... “Well, it’s no secret that the Democrats are trying to get everybody back on one side. Everyone wants to work it out,” said one source.
The Democratic majority caucus holds an 18-17 majority in the Senate. Five so-called dissident Democrats are in a majority caucus with the twelve Republican senators. If the Democratic caucus could reach 21 votes by enticing at least three Democrats to switch from the minority coalition, they would have a filibuster proof majority.
Sources told me that all Senate Democrats had been invited to the retreat, and one called it a “fact” that “most or all of the dissidents are going to be there,” an indication that “there is a thaw in relations and further fence mending could very well be attempted at Ross Bridge.” The five so-called dissident Democrats are Tom Butler (Madison), Jimmy Holley (Elba), E. B. McClain (Midfield), Larry Means (Attalla), and Jim Preuitt (Talladega).
One source explained that Means and McClain want to find a way back. One reason is that they would be unlikely to hold their seats in Democratic districts if they are successfully portrayed in the next election as being aligned with Republicans.
Preuitt and Butler are said to have their own unhappiness with Republican Gov. Riley, according to two sources. Preuitt is reportedly unhappy about Riley holding up an appointment related to the School for the Blind in Talladega. Butler is reportedly displeased about road money for his district being held up.
Riley was apparently very unhappy with the last do-nothing session in the Senate. If the Senate Democrats reunite (at least to the point of getting 21 votes), Riley loses the only real legislative leverage he has for the last three years of his term. (Riley, remember, encouraged the minority caucus to shut down the Senate last session rather than yield to the majority.)
Expect to hear more next week.
Good Story Doc!
Comment by GG — July 27, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Don’t rewrite history. Riley wanted them to shut it down if the Democratas went through with their attempt to have control over the interest on the school bond issue. When that got taken out of the bill, the shutdown threat ended.
Comment by Anonymous — July 27, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
Thanks, GG.
Anonymous, who’s rewriting history? You are speaking directly to my point that because Riley is working with GOP minorities in both houses, his biggest leverage point (which he used last session) is having allies able and willing to shut down or slow down the Senate.
I am not saying anything different than what was said at the time. Here is the B’ham News from May 18:
If the Democratic majority finds 21 votes, then Riley has very little to work with there.
Comment by Danny — July 28, 2007 @ 12:58 am
Perhaps it might be better to say that Riley had wished the last session was even more “do nothing” than it actually was.
Comment by Anonymous — July 28, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
Look at today’s (Sunday’s) story by Dana Beyerle. Doesn’t look like this retreat is going to turn out to be much.
Comment by Anonymous — July 29, 2007 @ 12:33 pm