Unless you're Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake), willing to build up a granary of talking points for the Agri-Growth Council, it's rough being a member of the Override Six, those mostly now-former Republican Minnesota House members who helped pass a gas tax increase in 2008.
One's even been resurrected as a Democrat.
Thus, it's not surprising to see Republican operative Andy Brehm, who served as press secretary for Senator Norm Coleman from May 2003 to June 2005, rip aspiring Republican US Senate candidate and Override Six member Jim Abeler in the AP report published in the Albert Lea Tribune, Anoka Republican wades into Senate race:
. . . Andy Brehm, a Republican strategist not aligned with any campaign, said having competition for the GOP nomination will make the party’s candidate stronger. But Brehm has trouble seeing a viable route for Abeler.
“This is a longshot candidate for sure,” Brehm said. “People are hungry for independent but they’re not hungry for inconsistency. Voting for taxes before is going to be a nonstarter.” . . .
At the Pioneer Press, Doug Belden reports in Anoka Republican Jim Abeler wades into Senate race:
. . .He caught heat from within his party in 2008 when he broke ranks and helped DFLers override then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of a gas tax increase.
Abeler handily won re-election that year, anyway. In 2010, he was one of a handful of GOP legislative candidates endorsed by the Education Minnesota teachers union. . . .
So if members of the Override Six in Anoka County don't end up remaining in the Minnesota House with dreams of serving in the United States Senate, where do they end up?
Photo: The Override Six, via MinnPost's 2008 article by G.R. Anderson, The 'override six': Chastised by GOP leaders, they're feeling confident about re-election.
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I have always maintained that there were, in reality, only five override GOP heroes. Certianly, only five were punished. Rep. Hamilton was rewarded. I also believe his vote was preapproved by Rep. Seifert.
Why do I believe this?
1. Rep. Hamilton was the 6th of 5 votes needed.
2. He was the only one who chose which committee chair position he would lose / give up.
3. He was not subjected to any further challenges or discipline. In fact, he was promoted by his caucus in the next legislative session.
It is important to know that Hamilton knew of the pending promotion when the legislative session ended. Anticipating labor support after the override vote, Rep. Hamilton screened for endorsement by the SW Labor Council a few weeks after the end of the session. In his interview he told the council that he was being promoted to a leadership position within his caucus. Dale Moerke, the labor council chair, later wrote a letter to Daily Globe referring to Hamilton’s comments to the council.
I strongly believe that Rep. Hamilton had Leader Seifert’s permission to vote for the override. Rep. Hamiton had a very close election in 2004. His 2006 election was even closer. He was clearly not safe. After the override vote, and the Hwy 60 deal cut with Speaker Kelliher, he was clearly safe. Seifert could not afford to lose Hamilton’s district if the GOP wanted to gain a majority of seats in the house.
I strongly suspect that if one of the other five GOP legislators who voted their conscience had changed their vote, Rep. Hamilton would not have voted to override.
There were five brave Republicans who stood up and did what was right for Minnesota in 2007. There was also one opportunist.
Deb Hogenson
Posted by: Debra Hogenson | Jun 19, 2013 at 12:53 AM