Bacon's Rebellion

Bill Howell: At Last, a Force to Be Reckoned With

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James A. Bacon
in

Agree or disagree with the details of the GOP transportation plan, it’s pretty clear that House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, has emerged as a political power in Virginia. Outmaneuvered over taxes by Gov. Mark R. Warner in 2004, and stymied over transportation by Senate Finance Chair John Chichester, R-Northumberland, in 2006, Howell has come tantalizingly close this year to winning the big one.

Howell was the man, with critical assistance from Attorney General Bob McDonnell, who cobbled together the plan despite a huge philosophical gulf between Republicans in the Senate and the House of Delegates. Laying his personal prestige on the line, he went so far as to testify for HB 3202 before the Senate — something that a House Speaker rarely does — and he’s held the fragile Republican coalition together in the face of withering attack.

As the taxes-and-transportation drama has unfolded over the past three years, I’ve observed, Howell has “matured” as a leader. It seems I’m not alone in that view. Tim Craig makes much the same point in a respectful profile in the Washington Post today. Among the quotes:

“He clearly had his hands on the controls and produced, so he has renewed clout and stature,” said Charlie Davis, who has been a statehouse lobbyist for nearly three decades. …

Even Democrats, who are hoping to pick up seats this fall, say Howell scored a big personal victory. “If you are looking at it strictly from a political maneuvering and political success, yeah, he gets credit,” said House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry).

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7 responses to “Bill Howell: At Last, a Force to Be Reckoned With”

  1. Phil Rodokanakis Avatar
    Phil Rodokanakis

    I wonder if the WashPost would be complementary of Howell if he hadn’t proposed raising taxes in the Transportation Compromise bill. I bet, he would have been described as an obstinate right-wing extremist, instead. Why is it that when Republicans propose to raise taxes, they are always praised by the WashPost?

  2. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Not a credible criticism, and here’s why: you’re talking about the work of one reporter – Tim Craig. Why reach past him and try to slap the WashPost? I suspect because you can’t make the argument stick if you went after him. If you’ve got some reason to say craig’s reporting is flawed then declare it and explain yourself. How careless….

  3. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    “it’s pretty clear that House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, has emerged as a political power in Virginia.”

    Only one thing comes to mind…..the chant we used to scream at basketball games when I was in high school;

    “OooVvvEeeRrr RrrAaaaTttEeeDddd”

  4. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Howell finally got off his hands and did something because for the first time in six years he was facing a credible challenge in the 28th. When it was simply other members of the Rep caucus screaming about the need in an election year to do something, anything, about transportation he sat on the sidelines. As soon as a City Council member’s name was mentioned as a Dem challenger (with moderate GOP support) he stitched together this Frankenstein’s monster of all bill. Developed as a leader? Nope, just a bunch of partisans clinging to power for power’s sake. This “deal” does nothing for the constituents of the 28th, which is after all Howell’s real job.

  5. James Atticus Bowden Avatar
    James Atticus Bowden

    Pyrhhic victory for Republicans.

  6. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    No, PR is right — the equation at the WashPost goes beyond this reporter, Craig. Support for taxes=good Republican. And Charlie Davis — talk about speaking pander to power….

  7. Larry Gross Avatar
    Larry Gross

    I’m confused.

    Do folks really think the so-called compromise is something that Bill Howell should point with pride towards?

    It violates R principles out the wazooo…

    and even the Dem’s look more responsible by recognizing that funding roads from the General Revenue invites a stampede environment for favorite/pet road projects statewide.

    What legislator is going to tell HIS constituents that it’s “wrong” to not advocate for their locality/regional roads in the competition for general revenue funds when every other locality is doing it?

    We’re going to have 100 Billion dollars worth of backlogged roads entered as separate bills in the GA next session – and then we’re going to have a GA sub-committee make decisions as lobby folk circle them.

    I don’t see this as leadership for conservative principles at all and the fact that even the conservative R’s THINK that their ONLY legitimate position should be “no more taxes” really tells me just how devoid of honest ideas they are as a group.

    I think they are wrong on the principles and wrong on the politics and I have a hard time visualizing broad and continuing support for what continuing the kind of GOP leadership that brought this mess to the table.

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