Who Benefits From An August Vote on Federal Health Care Bill?
The Missouri House just approved the Senate's proposal to allow voters to express their feelings about the new federal health care law in the August primary election. If passed, it would add a provision into state statute intended to block the federal government from taxing people who choose not to buy health insurance, though no one seems to know how such a prohibition would work. Truthfully, it's just a symbolic vote, pushed by the most conservative of legislators to give their tea party supporters a warm and fuzzy feeling.
But just because it may be a meaningless statute doesn't mean it's devoid of political consequences. Specifically, Republican candidates who have positioned themselves as the 'true conservatives' in their primaries stand to benefit from an excited tea party base. A few candidates come to mind...
- Cynthia Davis. Though Scott Rupp's colleagues in the Senate have tried to give him some cover by letting him stand out front on this issue, no one will believe that he's as crazy as Cynthia (nor should they). Davis sponsored one of the original constitutional amendments purporting to defend Missourians from requirements in the federal bill, and even appeared on Fox Business to talk about her awesomeness.
- Allen Icet. Tommy Schweich is no moderate, but he's hardly the darling of the tea party crowd. Icet's campaign has been working overtime to position the House Budget Chair to the right of Schweich. It will take a lot more than #PDK tweets on his behalf to convince tea partiers that he's one of them.
- Chuck Purgason. Roy Blunt is obviously opposed to the federal bill, but an energized base intent on sending Washington a message is bad news for Roy.
- Brian Nieves. Nieves is currently locked in a four-way primary for the 26th Senate District seat with Jack Jackson, Washington Mayor Dick Stratman and Donald Meyer. Nieves is a hot-headed crazy person, but his tea party friends and radio audience seem to think that's a good thin.
- Bryan Pratt. Pratt is battling fellow representatives Will Kraus and Gary Dusenburg in the Senate District 8 primary. If the race comes down to which candidates employs the most hyperbolic rhetoric in defense of freedom, Pratt wins.
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Just for fun, here's an alternate "Express Yourself" visual aide.
