GOP looks to new leaders for help in '06 session

Monday, December 26, 2005

GOP looks to new leaders for help in '06 session
State's minority party hopes to put heft into opposition

By DAVID AMMONS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OLYMPIA -- Republicans in both the House and Senate have new leaders as they head into a battleground legislative session next month, hoping to score points that will translate into election gains in November.

In Washington, D.C., Republicans run the whole show, but in Olympia, they're in the political wilderness. Democrats have a lock on both chambers and the governor's mansion, possibly for the next three years or longer.

After a decade of controlling or sharing power, being relegated to the sidelines isn't much fun for the elephant gang, so they hanker for a comeback. They'll try to use the new session as a springboard.

GOP caucuses have new leadership heading into the new year and hope to strike an effective and attention-getting balance of good-natured collaboration and red-meat partisanship. Good cop, bad cop.
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/253400_gcenter26.html

Seems it's just in Washington state.