With Us or Against Us

Here on the 13th Floor, we're fond of spouting off about the idea that states lead and Washington follows, with policy decisions being hashed out across the country while Congress dithers. There's plenty of evidence for such assertions, but there's one area where Congress clearly shows the way: partisanship.

No doubt you're sick of hearing about how partisanship infects Washington. But state legislatures have also become more partisan in recent years, seeming to pick up every bad habit members of Congress can come up with, after a two or three year lag. This is a point that comes up again and again in discussions with state officials, in and out of legislatures.

It came to mind while reading this Washington Post story. Maryland, long a bastion of Democratic strength, is now much more in play because of Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich.

The story details the ways in which Annapolis is more closely mirroring lobbying practices in Washington. Where once lobbyists could pick and choose clients, now it's much more the case that some lobbyists are Republican, and work Republican causes, while others are Democrats, and never the twain shall meet.

Having lobbyists owe their loyalty to party ties, rather than their issues or particular clients, has certainly worked wonders in Washington. No wonder states are starting to emulate the idea.