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Some of Texas’ biggest business trade groups are moving to counter tea party and anti-government forces that have dominated recent Republican primaries.
The Texas Future Business Alliance — a mix of 10 major business groups, including the chemical industry, bankers, builders and contractors — is sending out mailers and providing other support on behalf of GOP candidates who have supported water infrastructure development, highway construction and education spending.
Many of the incumbents have been pilloried as big government spenders and liberals by fiscal hawk groups.
The movement mirrors the schism happening nationally between hard right and establishment Republicans. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently pledged $50 million to back pro-business Republicans in U.S. Senate primaries and fight tea party insurgents. Republican leaders, such as House Speaker John Boehner, have castigated hard right groups, accusing them of wanting contributions more than solutions.
“It’s part of the same trend you’re seeing nationally. A lot of the business community is tired of people who don’t want to govern,” said a person involved in the Texas Future Business Alliance, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The group isn’t talking about its efforts. Spokesman David Polyansky, who has worked on campaigns for Michele Bachmann and Mike Huckabee, said the business alliance aims to “recognize leaders dedicated to keeping Texas as the best state in the nation for business development and job growth.”
Insiders won’t say how much they are investing, but they describe it as the first major stirrings of business interests in GOP primaries.
Business interests are concerned that the Tea Party focus on limiting taxes and shrinking government makes it difficult for necessary infrastructure improvement to be made in the state:
Others see a fight that developed over willingness to invest in economic development projects. In Texas, that means a disagreement over infrastructure.
During last year’s legislative sessions, lawmakers refused to tap the $8 billion in the state’s rainy day fund to help pay for water projects in the drought-plagued state or help relieve crumbling and traffic-clogged highways.
The Republican-dominated Legislature was largely swayed by anti-tax and fiscal hawk groups that opposed increasing the 22-year-old gas tax or fees or diverting some money from the rainy day fund to pay for highways and water projects.
Ultimately, lawmakers punted the decision to voters, who in November overwhelmingly voted to spend $2 billion from the rainy day fund for water projects. Next November, voters will decide whether to divert about $900 million a year to pay for highways. Transportation advocates still complain that billions more are needed.
Republican incumbents have come to fear being labeled “establishment” and facing challenges from the right. In districts that are drawn for one party to have a heavy advantage, the primary is often the only contest that matters. There, candidates must appeal to the party’s base voters.
Lawmakers who worked to pay for water, education and highways found themselves tarred by Sullivan and other fiscal hawks, said Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business.
The association is not part of the Texas Future Business Alliance, but Hammond said he fully supports its goals.
The story makes a point - above - about the impact of politically gerrymandered districts. Ideologically driven voters also tend to be most likely to vote. In districts drawn to elect Republicans, this tends to give an advantage to the more ideologically extreme candidate. This point is repeated regularly.
