Haussamen: Analysis of Coalition Collapse

Heath Haussamen

NMPolitics.net - Though House Republican leaders wanted their caucus to support a coalition to make Rep. Joseph Cervantes speaker of the House, in the end, politics took over, and a coalition never truly materialized. The political dynamics that prevented the coalition were twofold: Some GOP members felt the pressure of lobbying from tea party groups around the state and were afraid they might face primary challengers in two years if they joined a coalition. Others thought they would have a better chance of taking control of the House in 2012 if Ben Luján remained speaker. In addition, some GOP members wanted more from Cervantes, who promised nothing except fairness and adherence to the rules. In the end, it didn’t matter that Minority Leader Tom Taylor and Minority Whip Don Bratton wanted their caucus to back Cervantes. Read full analysis here:

Haussamen: Analysis of Coalition Collapse