Freshman Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick won't discuss a conversation he had with Idaho GOP colleague Mike Simpson about the role Minnick might play in removing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Simpson says he told Minnick that members of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition of Democrats will hold the balance of power if Democrats retain control in the November election and could deny Pelosi re-election in January 2011.
Simpson said he counseled Minnick during a May 29 flight from Washington to Salt Lake City about how the Blue Dogs could make history.
"It's premature until one sees the lineup of the next House of Representatives," Minnick told the Idaho Statesman. "If there are multiplecandidates - and there were not last time - I will vote for whoever best represents my views and whoever I think best represents the thinking of Idahoans."
Minnick declined to say whether he's discussed that scenario with fellow Blue Dogs. "There is a casual conversation on almost every topic from time to time," he said. "I don't have a response to your question."
Minnick did echo part of what Simpson says they discussed: "The speaker is elected by a majority of the House, not a majority of the (controlling party) caucus. People ignore that. And I have been a voice for sensible leadership."Said Simpson: "Who do you think told him that?"
Read more of this story at IdahoStatesman.com