More on GOP SOS Response
The D&C has a post on why Sen. Joe Robach (R-56) didn’t give the Senate GOP State of the State (SOS) response. Here’s what the D&C has to say:
Robach said he wasn’t passed over, but that he told Senate staff that he wants to focus on Rochester.
“I think they had several people and I said my focus is going to be Rochester,” Robach said.
That sounds plausible, but Liz at Daily Politics has a further info that doesn’t really support Robach’s account of events:
When I asked why the Senate had chosen Lanza, I was told he’s viewed as a “young, rising star within the party.” Given that youth is at a premium - particularly in the Senate - and the fact that the GOP doesn’t have a very big back bench in this Democrat-dominated state, the selection of Lanza makes sense.
Sure, Robach could have told the Senate staff that he didn’t want to give the response because, as he put it, he wanted to focus on Rochester, but I doubt it. Robach is known for capitalizing on every opportunity he has to get his name out there. Delivering the GOP response would have given him a great deal of free media. Perhaps I’m missing something, but Robach turning down the GOP response because he wants to focus on Rochester doesn’t pass the smell test.
I’ve read the GOP’s response to the SOS. You can check it out for yourself here. If we look closely at the GOP’s response, it leads me to believe Robach may not have wanted to give the speech because it was too conservative for his Democrat dominated district. This is admittedly speculation, but take a look at what I consider a key phrase:
The Senate plan eliminates the complicated income brackets and eligibility limits put in place last year. No longer will this administration get to choose which families get property tax relief and which families don’t.
Somehow I don’t think this is a message that would fly in most of Robach’s district.
The senator’s credibility is next to zero. I hope he is ousted this year.