(Washington, D.C.) – As the nation’s governors begin to arrive in Washington, D.C. for the annual Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association, there is the printed agenda and then everything else that is going on.
Rarely is the focus of the major meetings, breakout sessions and ancillary meetings of regional governor’s groups as interesting as the comments and positioning being done in the hallways of the J.W. Marriott Hotel, in between it all.
The Theme
Once again this year, expect the governors to focus their remarks from the official podiums on the economy and job creation. As is always the case, governors will ask the federal government for more flexibility to manage federal dollars at the local level.
Interviews and reporting in advance of this year’s NGA indicates the frustration with Washington, D.C. in general and the Congress in particular, is still running high with governors. Several are using the term “punt” to describe their view of how Washington deals with major issues facing the country. As in; “every time they are faced with a decision, they punt.”
It is important to note that this criticism is both a reflection of reality and good politics. There is never any downside to a governor comparing himself favorably against Washington and recent public opinion polls show most Americans happen to agree the federal government can’t get anything done.
Campaign 2012
There are no longer any sitting governors in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but the news media will be interested to know which Republican governors are positioning themselves for vice president and which Democratic governors are positioning themselves for a possible run in 2016.
Expect national press speculation to focus on governors Mitch Daniels(R), Chris Christie(R), Bob McDonnell(R), Brian Sandoval(R) and Susana Martinez(R). On the Democratic side expect a focus on Martin O’Malley(D), Deval Patrick(D) and Andrew Cuomo(D). Cuomo is not expected to attend, in part to avoid feeding 2016 speculation.
McDonnell and O’Malley are the chairmen of the Republican and Democratic governors associations and are willing participants in partisan sparring. Although they usually take measures to avoid criticizing each other based on local issues this year may be different. With Republicans controlling the Virginia legislature, the GOP seems to have gotten itself into a tight spot over abortion and gun control.
It plays right into the hands of the DGA which has been pushing a narrative for months that Republican governors are guilty of “over-reach” in the states they control. Look for “over-reach” to be an over-used word by Democratic governors assessing the political situation and by Republicans using the same rhetoric to criticize President Obama.
In Maryland, Governor O’Malley is defending a series of tax increases he says are necessary to fund investments in the future of his state. It’s a fiscal approach that plays right into the hands of Republicans.
Very few Republican governors have taken sides in the current GOP race for the presidential nomination. With the contest so close there is no reason to expect a rush by governors to side with any of the four remaining candidates, including former Governor Mitt Romney(R). But you should look for national press covering the NGA to use the reluctance to choose sides as further evidence that the party is dissatisfied with the current field.
Gay Marriage
Recent developments on the issue of gay marriage are also likely to be a subtext of the meeting. O’Malley is expected to sign a gay marriage bill into law in the coming days. Last year’s NGA chair, Governor Chris Gregoire(D) of Washington signed a gay marriage law last week and Governor Chris Christie(R) of New Jersey vetoed one.
Christie is one of the Democrats’ favorite targets. You can expect the DGA to use Christie’s veto as another example of Republican hypocrisy on social issues.
Who’s There
Around 40 governors are expected to attend the weekend meeting which closes with a meeting at the White House with the president. It’s at this meeting where the controversy over the Keystone XL pipeline is likely to surface.
For the first time since taking office – a second time – California Governor Jerry Brown(D) is scheduled to attend. His presence will have an impact on the room given his long career in politics and his outspoken nature.
Several Republican governors are not expected to attend for financial or philosophical reasons. Most notably, Texas Governor Rick Perry(R). It is not unusual for governors not attending the NGA to come to Washington, D.C. to attend fundraising events sponsored by the DGA and RGA.
