Conflicting Stories

So… Rep. Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake) was removed from the Assembly Special Committee on Clean Energy Jobs today.  They are currently considering the devastating global warming bill that the Democrats want to ram through at the end of the legislative session before they lose power. 

Why?

Rep. Hraychuck says it’s because she expressed reservations about the bill so the Democratic leadership threw her off the committee to discipline her. 

The Democrats say that they were responding to Republican criticism about the lopsidedness of the committee (as if a 6-3 split is any better than a 7-3 split).

The Republicans say that she was taken off the committee to protect her from having to vote on a controversial bill since she is in a swing district. 

Who is right? 

If I had to bet, I’d say that the Republicans are right and Rep. Hraychuck and the Democrats are trying to cover themselves.  The Democrats wouldn’t want to punish her by throwing her off a committee because they may need her vote when the legislation hits the floor.  Plus, it would have been more effective for her to vote against the bill in committee if she wanted to show balance to her constituents.  The bill would still get out of committee on a 6-4 vote and she could go home and claim to have voted against it.  The Democrats’ excuse is just idiotic.  If they were trying to be more bipartisan on the committee they wouldn’t have just removed Hraychuck.  They would have allowed a Republican appointment or two in her place. 

If you’re a voter in Hraychuck’s district, don’t be fooled.  She’s playing you.