January 09, 2024 01:03 PM UTC

House Micro-Minority Leader Lynch Guarantees Session of Absentee Obstruction

• 4 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

The Colorado Springs Gazette’s political blog wrapped up its annual Q&A sessions with Gov. Jared Polis and the leadership on both sides and both chambers of the Colorado General Assembly. All worth the moment it takes to read, but we wanted to start with Republican House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, recently announced candidate for Congress running for outgoing Rep. Ken Buck’s much-coveted safe Republican seat. Lynch wasn’t asked what may be his biggest question, how he plans to manage a run for Congress while trying to keep control of his fractious rump end of the Democratic House supermajority. But Lynch gave answers about what to expect when the legislative session kicks off tomorrow that strongly suggest cooperation will not be on the menu:

CP: What do you think will be the toughest challenge this session?

Lynch: Our toughest challenge will be ensuring that our seat at the table is not overlooked as it was last session and during this recent special session. Bipartisanship goes both ways. [Pols emphasis] Convincing our Democrat colleagues of this continues to be our biggest hurdle. This session will be even more difficult to get things accomplished, while the majority works through their organizational crisis, but it should also be an opportunity for us to show Colorado who has the real solutions.

Here we come to one of the greatest misconceptions held by Colorado Republicans, which is the myth that they are operating in a “bipartisan” political environment. At least in the Colorado House, they are not. After years of losses caused by incompetent candidates and campaigns and a slow demographic slide toward permanent minority status, Republicans in the Colorado House are on the wrong side of a 46-19 Democratic supermajority. That gives Democrats bigger majorities in committees, and means that Democrats can shut down Republican obstruction tactics on the House floor.

That is not tyranny. That is the will of Colorado voters. And if Mike Lynch was serious about showing Colorado “who has the real solutions” this session, the job of House Minority Leader would have his undivided attention.

Leading to the next question, will House Republicans do whatever they can to gum up the works this year? Answer: you have to ask?

CP: Under what conditions will you resort to slowdown tactics?

Lynch: We saw unprecedented attacks on the legislative process last session that prohibited the voices of Coloradans from being heard. From the majority instituting rules 14 and 16 to shut down debate, to the failure to upload the bills being debated, to the website not allowing citizens to be able to provide public comment on them, the majority circumvented the legislative process any way they could. Our goal is for the legislative process to work for the citizens of Colorado. If the majority wants to continue to disregard the voice of the people, then we will use whatever tactics we have at our disposal.

Again, invoking the rules available to the majority to shut down obstruction tactics by the micro-minority is not “unprecedented,” which implies these rules weren’t already long on the books. But none of those details really matter, because Lynch is forecasting in essence a repeat of the failed obstruction campaigns led by his caucus’ faction of inconsolable rageaholics led by Reps. Scott “There Is No” Bottoms and Ken “Skin” DeGraaf[t]. There’s no question that at the very least, Lynch’s attention from managing the House minority is going to be split with Lynch’s run for Congress. That greatly increases the likelihood of the “House Crazies” running hog wild, testing the patience of leadership like toddlers until the Democratic majority is again obliged to lay the parliamentary hammer down. After which Lynch and his micro-minority will stage another stunt complaining about how nobody listened to them, when in fact Republican obstruction tactics consistently take up more time than legitimate debate.

If we sound a little jaded describing these tired obstruction tactics and excuses, that’s because we are. Republicans blaming the natural consequences of losing elections on the increasingly lopsided Democratic majority has become a perennial means of coping with their shrinking political influence in this state, and it’s become a cynical exercise that in the end only reinforces their status as weak, disorganized losers who deserve their fate.

As for Lynch, who is by no means the favorite in the historic clown-car of the CD-4 GOP primary, neglecting his current job in fruitless pursuit of higher office is setting up to be his legacy. Even if Lynch sets his crazies free and never shows up for work, as Minority Leader he still owns what they do.