Legislature: Expect Showmanship

Expect a short session in Boise this year as lawmakers prepare for the primaries in May. Politics, not policy, will dominate the Legislature, says Rep. John Rusche (D-Lewiston). “The very conservative are battling the conservative,” he says. “The legislative session is just going to be fertile ground to have campaign discussions in the Republican party.” That said, it’s unlikely lawmakers will entertain serious debates about big issues like Medicaid expansion or infrastructure improvements, says Sen. Dan Schmidt (D-Moscow). Instead, he anticipates “showmanship politics” among Tea Party Republicans attempting to expose their more moderate party members. “In terms of actually getting work done,” he says. “I’m not sure that’s going to happen”/ Deanna Pan , Inlander. More here.

Question: Which side of the GOP divide is more susceptible to showmanship by the other side — mainstream ones or Tea Party ones?