Burnt Orange Report 12/10/10Rep. Aaron Pena Considering Party Switch, GOP House Supermajority PossibleWith Austin Rep. Donna Howard winning her recount by 12 votes, Democrats thought they had locked in their important 51st vote in the Texas House, denying the GOP a 100 vote supermajority in the lower chamber. A 2/3rds majority is largely symbolic as there are few provisions that require a 2/3rds vote in the House- tapping the Rainy Day Fund, constitutional amendments, and overriding a gubernatorial veto or, in extreme cases, breaking quorum.
On Election Night, I remarked that Democrats were lucky that Democratic Representative Allan Ritter did not have a Republican opponent as he would have likely lost like the rest of his East Texas Anglo Democratic colleagues. I even remarked privately to folks in Austin that because of the slim margin we would be wise to keep an eye out for GOP pressure to garner a party switch from the Democratic caucus.
It appears that may be happening, but from an unlikely source.
Today, Rep. Aaron Pena of Hidalgo County, which still has no Republican officeholders, announced that he will issue a statement in the coming days to address swirling speculation that he may switch parties. From the Rio Grande Guardian...
:wtf: If Pena switches he's a coward and a sell out. :mad:
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