Orange County is a hub of business, corporate, education, entertainment and tourism activity known around the world. Likewise, Washington and its politicians and policymakers hand down decisions and distribute funds every day that directly impact life in Orange County. Despite their equal prominence, Washington and the decisions made here do not receive the attention I believe they are due in Orange County.
Orange County’s congressional delegation, lobbyists hired by OC-based companies and local government, and major corporations are all involved in activities in Washington. Much of this activity goes unreported as it happens but nonetheless its end result will directly touch lives, jobs and quality of life in Orange County.
Red County is launching a new column, “OC/DC” – authored by my old friend and political veteran Jeff Solsby – that we hope will change that. Jeff will serve as Washington correspondent, from where he will share with you some news, some opinion, and some insights into the politics, the people and the processes that take place in DC -- and that will ultimately impact your family and mine in OC. Enjoy!
--Jubal
Renowned political analyst Stuart Rothenberg recently wrote in Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call that Democrats will gain 15-20 seats and gain control of the House of Representatives. This wasn’t a joke; it was the work of one of Washington’s most respected political thinkers and analysts.
<>To readers in a Red County, this news may come as quite a shock – but Rothenberg is not the only one in Washington now discussing this scenario.
And while many of us will be hoping for a different outcome, elected officials, business leaders and public policymakers – as well as taxpayers – throughout Orange County would likely feel the impact should the House of Representatives change hands in November and a new party take over for the first time in a decade.
California’s size and the depth of experience within our Congressional Delegation has given our home state innumerable advantages when it came to having a strong presence in Washington and bringing the bacon back home; it also put our elected officials in the highest levels of leadership. County government, local government and businesses of all sizes benefited from having not just a strong Republican-led delegation, but also a slew of California and Orange County-based Republicans who sat in prominent positions on key committees and at the negotiating tables when major national and state issues are hashed-out. Should these members loose their leadership seats, the names and faces will change -- and so too will the approach many in OC take when dealing with DC.
These changes would mean lobbyists working for county and local government agencies would have to rely on new contacts and that local government officials would have to establish relationships with an entirely new set of leaders such as having to re-educate a group of new committee members and staff that are perhaps not so well versed on local projects and local priorities. Of the 21 major committees in the House of Representatives, excluding certain “joint” House-Senate Committees, 6 are led by California Republican Chairman – more than any other state.
In three installments, I’d like to paint a picture of how California’s Congressional Delegation will change should the Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives. In each part, I’ll outline a group of House Committees and what a leadership change might mean in terms of issues and impact for Orange County.