It appears that beating Democrats to a pulp in the State House over the past four years just isn’t enough for some conservatives. Republican/Tea Party candidate Todd Courser, 82nd District, went on Off the Record last week and criticized Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger. He didn’t criticize him for his central role in the ethical scandal that has become known as “Bolgergate.” Instead, he criticized him for working too much (read at all) with Democrats!
English: Seal of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Courser told the panel he believes Republicans should follow the so called “Hastert Rule.” The Hastert Rule requires that a majority of the majority be in favor of a bill before it can even be brought up for a vote! This unwritten rule was put into effect in 2004 by U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. The rule further limits the power of the minority party. In fact, one could say it almost eliminates the need for the minority party. The implementation of the Hastert Rule in congress has coincided with both hyperpartisianship and near paralyzation. It should also be noted that the approval rating for Congress is only at 9%, the lowest on record.
So far Courser has only won the Republican Primary. Although, he seems pretty confident about winning the November general election noting “it kind of changes the State House when there is the three of us coming in,” referring to fellow Tea Party primary winners Lee Chatfield and Aaron Miller. It’s hard to believe that a moderate state like Michigan could be pulled even further to the right. However, if Democrats don’t get control of something in December, these three Tea Partiers will make sure that Michigan is run more like Congress. That will only add inefficiency to insult.