Assembly Leadership Fights to Keep Caucus From Opposing Tax Increases

It looks like the Assembly leadership is getting a bit jittery.  A few days ago I asked Assembly Republicans to sign a pledge that they would not vote for a budget that increases taxes. 

Well… as of late this morning, Brian Dake from Speaker Huebsch’s Office began making the rounds to Assembly Republican offices to dissuade members from signing or agreeing to my pledge.  Additionally, I have heard that Speaker Huebsch has chosen a couple of legislators to contact individual members and “explain to them why it’s a bad idea” to sign the pledge.  Those two legislators are Rep. Vos and Rep. Rhoades (both on JFC).

It is clear that the leadership fears having members locked-in with the no tax increase pledge.  Makes you wonder how on the one hand Huebsch can talk tough at the Convention and then wants to prevent members from publicly stating their opposition to tax increases.  What happened to this?

“How much further can they go?” Huebsch asked. “That is where the state Assembly will be that goalkeeper, and we will stand in the way of Jim Doyle and his tax increases.”

Look, I’ve heard the leadership’s arguments on this issue.  After I posted the pledge I received some vigorous opposition to it from leadership folks (folks whom I like and who are generally conservative).  But I believe that the leadership’s budget tactics are fundamentally flawed and will result in massive tax increases.  I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t afford any more.  Madison gets enough of my paycheck. 

BTW, several more Assembly Republicans have signed on to my pledge.  I’ll post their responses in a little while. 

UPDATE: Apparently there was also an emergency conference call last night among the leaders to plan this counter-offensive.  Glad to know that they are acting so swiftly and aggressively to squash the fiscal conservatives in their caucus.  If only there was such action on other fronts. 

UPDATE2:  Here’s Mark Belling’s take on this topic.  And Charlie Sykes has his thoughts on it:

Do you think the GOP learned it’s lesson last year? Apparently not.

Owen, from Boots and Sabers has been challenging legislators to sign a no tax pledge.

Now, he reports, assembly GOP honchos are quietly telling leggies not to sign. Setting the stage for a cave-in? Keeping their tax-increasing options open?

Disturbing.