Bob Marshall Passed By On P&E Committee
By Greg L | 19 December 2007 | 13th HOD District, Virginia House | 11 Comments
Speaker Howell, in a payback move to Delegate Bob Marshall’s effort to have a different speaker selected, has chosen Delegate Mark Cole of Stafford to chair the House Privileges and Elections Committee despite Marshall being the most senior member on the committee. Although it’s gotten a few bloggers all atwitter, I can’t imagine these supposed brilliant observers of Virginia politics were actually surprised by this. Bob Marshall doesn’t compromise his principles in order to be a team player, and when he’s unhappy about something he’s not someone to silently grumble about it rather than try to do something about it. Yes, there’s friction here, and in politics that means someone isn’t going to get appointed to a job. Oh, the horror…
This of course isn’t a really welcome problem for a party leader like Howell who is trying to forge compromise and hold together majorities. Having a Bob Marshall around is sort of like having Seinfeld’s “soup nazi” as part of your kitchen staff: the product of his efforts is absolutely tremendous, but his zeal for perfection can drive lesser mortals, particularly those that might be charged with keeping the peace in the kitchen, to utter distraction. I’m pretty sure Speaker Howell hasn’t appreciated Bob Marshall leading the inner-party fight against last year’s transportation compromise, and when Marshall criticized Howell’s record as speaker and suggested that someone else might do a better job here, I’m sure that each and every opportunity Howell has to marginalize Bob Marshall was circled and underlined in the Speaker’s daybook.
I actually think this is a hugely productive situation, given where Republicans are right now. Howell has focused on broad consensus solutions that sometimes discard principles for the practical, simply because there wasn’t any other way to get things done. The intent here is to come back around at the compromise in subsequent years and fix the problems. Marshall on the other hand demands we get things right the first time, would joyously accept deadlock as an alternative to compromising principles, and probably considers the very notion of compromise as an exercise in which folks throw away their convictions in order to obtain headlines about “getting stuff done”. That’s not what Marshall cares about.
What a good battle that is. It’s the classic fight between those who ascribe to “don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good” pitted against those who say that compromise on principle is nothing but moral weakness. The outcome of this, should there be a robust debate, will benefit us all.
This latest outcome in the brewing philosophical battle is that Bob Marshall won’t chair the House P&E Committee. I doubt he feels gravely wounded by this slight. I wouldn’t be surprised a bit if he finds that Delegate Mark Cole, who is taking the position Marshall has a traditional claim on, a good choice here. I’ve met Mark Cole, and he is a really fine conservative who should have a long and productive political career. Mark Cole is more likely to work in a cordial way with Speaker Howell, although he probably will align with Marshall at nearly every opportunity.
Here are the House Committee leadership selections:
Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources – Harvey B. Morgan (R-Gloucester)
Appropriations – Lacey E. Putney (I-Bedford)
Commerce and Labor – Terry G. Kilgore (R-Scott)
Counties, Cities and Towns – Riley E. Ingram (R-Hopewell)
Courts of Justice – David B. Albo (R-Fairfax)
Education – Robert Tata (R-Virginia Beach)
Finance – Harry R. “Bob” Purkey (R-Virginia Beach)
General Laws – Terrie L. Suit (R-Virginia Beach)
Health, Welfare and Institutions – Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News)
Militia, Police and Public Safety – Beverly J. Sherwood (R-Frederick)
Privileges and Elections – Mark L. Cole (R-Spotsylvania)
Science and Technology – Kathy J. Byron (R-Lynchburg)
Rules – Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford)
Transportation – Joe T. May (R-Loudoun)
Other than P&E, there are no surprises.
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11 Comments
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LOL
Mark Cole is also a great delegate. There is little to no ideological difference between the two. The biggest difference between Cole and Marshall is personality. Cole does not campaign against and constantly rail against other Republicans during a very difficult campaign season. Although Cole can disagree with the Speaker, he does it in a way that does not hurt other Republicans and make the Speaker look bad.
Speaker Howell has probably the most difficult job in state government. If Marshall had his way we would be in constant government shutdown, and we would have certainly lost the majority. That being said, Marshall is truly one of a kind and the statehouse certainly would not be the same without him. We need a guy like Marshall representing conservatives, but Marshall will never have any significant leadership within the General Assembly just because he cannot and will not play nice with other Republicans with whom he disagrees.
or he is crazy
Marshall strikes me as an angry man. Hmm, he can’t even play nice within his party or those of a different opinion. I think he is very SCARY!
Eve,
Very aggressive also. I have a real life story to tell when the time is right.
It will not be told here though.
Dolph,
Agressive, I’m sure of it.
I’d be very interested to here a real life story for a change. I don’t blame you one bit for not putting out here.
here should be hear. (Sorry)
Bzzzzz Bzzzzzz whisper whisper shhhhh shhhhhh Buzzzzzz Buzzzzzzz
hmmmmmmmm Bzzzzzzz whisper whisper
Nah…it will be open and above board. The timing isn’t right though. Nor will I be the speaker.
Tiresome blue-haired salaciousness.
Bill Howell is a good and decent man but he is not a leader. It was his fault alone that Warner got his tax increase. 16 GOP members voted with a D Gov. There is no excuse in that.
Howell should have passed over Marshall because he has undermined other GOPers running for office. Bob is correct on the issues but you cant yell at people who disagree with you. I have observed the GA for about 15 years there is no one more committed to the pro life cause than Bob Marshall. That is commendable but yelling at pro choice people is not the way to win allies,in politics allies matter.