December 17, 2010 11:46 PM UTC

Tension in the New State House Majority?

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

We’re getting reports from credible sources at the state capitol of a budding conflict between incoming Speaker of the House Frank McNulty and his new Majority Leader, Rep. Amy Stephens. What we’re hearing is that McNulty is displeased with Stephens’ handling of the close House races decided in the weeks after the election. Stephens was reported as ‘rolling her eyes’ in the Denver paper in response to questions about these races, and overly dismissive at a time when Republicans would have scored more points with patience and magnaminity.

More generally, McNulty is reportedly upset with what he sees as a lack of savvy and political aptitude on the part of Stephens, and is concerned that she could at some point embarrass the caucus as a whole. Rather than making a public spat of it, look for this problem to resolve itself via a lot less press time for Rep. Stephens than her “leadership” position would normally call for. That said, we can still see Stephens steaming over this for a long time to come–she has been considered a “rising star” in the GOP for a few years now, and may not take well to being muzzled.