Under the Bus: Tilley blaming Richard for session's problems

Multiple sources have confirmed in recent days that House Majority Floor Leader Steve Tilley is going out of his way to blame the chaos and disorder of the 2009 legislation session on the incompetent leadership of Speaker Ron Richard.  Concerned about his own reputation, Tilley has reportedly been promising lobbyists and Capitol insiders that "when he's in charge," the House emerge from its recent pattern of dysfunction.

For much of the session, the disorganization and ineffectual leadership on key priorities was assumed to be the unavoidable byproduct of the unique arrangement between Tilley and Richard. In this symbiotic bargain, Richard would hold the title of Speaker, promote himself as the most powerful man since Caesar -- even though he didn’t really know how to manage the House -- and ready himself for a promotion to the Senate.  In return, Tilley would actually run the show with far less scrutiny – crucial to his game -- and blame any problems on Richard, since Richard won't be around anyway. 

However, the marked increase in Richard-bashing from Tilley makes one wonder if everything transpired according to plan. Is it possible that this soiling of the Speaker’s reputation is all part of the deal? 

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