Thursday, March 19, 2009
Kotz / Legislature / Politics The Irony of the Rural Lawmaker Coalition
Posted by Pete Kotz on Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 5:38 AM
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It's a fine idea, rural legislators banding together to bring their share of the state's largess to the countryside of Tennessee. They're even talking about a coalition that spans party lines. In the outbacks of state, where people are hurting much worse than in the city, there's a desperate need for infrastructure and job development.
But the premise for this succeeding presumes that lawmakers actually care about the everyday needs of their constituents. There's not a lot of evidence of that.
Thus far this session, the legislature's been frothing over guns, gays, abortion, limiting adoption, and all those things that make small people feel as if they're fighting a noble fight. But when it comes to kitchen table issues -- the things Mom and Dad lament when they're figuring out how late to pay the electric bill -- the legislature's been a no-show.
A new coalition won't make them care. It'll only provide them new cover.
