Passing legislation in a bipartisan legislature requires building alliances, not burning bridges. The Beshear administration's recent cancellation of a road project in David William's senate district was an attempt by the Governor to put Williams in his place. It was Beshear's first big mistake.
It's one thing to jerk the chain of someone you can beat; it's quite another to do it to someone who can beat you. Senate President David Williams has about as strong a lock on power in the Senate as anyone since John "Eck" Rose. If he wants a bill passed out of the Senate, it passes; if he doesn't want it, it doesn't pass.
Williams has been criticized for his imperious manner. And indeed, whatever room he happens to be in, there no doubt that he thinks he is the smartest and most articulate person there. There are two things to be said about this: First of all, he is. Second, although it puts some people off, it is usually the same bunch of people who didn't like him in the first place.
Despite sometimes being contary and condescending, William's leadership in the Republican Senate caucus is solid and uncontested. His manner may grate on those outside the caucus, but he is admired and trusted inside his own caucus. His members know their fate is secure in his politically capable hands, and he knows how to push the caucus in the right direction while respecting his members. The members of the caucus like success, and they know Williams will deliver it.
Those who work with him know Williams likes his position respected. He is the Senate leader and he likes to be treated accordingly. This is where Beshear has gone seriously astray in his strategy for success in his first legislative session.
The first casualty of Beshear's gaffe will be his casino legislation--if indeed it had a chance in the first place.
As I have pointed out elsewhere, David Williams already had every political incentive to stop the Governor's expanded gambling effort. If it does anything, Beshear's clumsy move puts the nail in the coffin of the effort to bring casinos to the state.
As Jill Johnson Keeney correctly observed in her Courier-Journal article last Sunday, the move was the political equivalent of saying, ""I, Steve Beshear, am the most powerful office holder in Kentucky. You, David Williams, will suffer if you don't cooperate with my agenda."
Bad move.
This strategy only works if you can do something to David Williams and he can't do something to you. Unfortunately for Beshear, there's plenty Williams can do.
Look for him to do it.
