Playing the Hands They are Dealt

As governors of South Carolina and Texas, respectively, Democrat Richard Riley and Republican George W. Bush lacked the constitutional, statutory, and raw political power that governors in most other states had. Such weakness institutionally can be expected to diminish a governor's policymaking leadership. Democrat Scott Matheson in Utah faced a Republican-controlled legislature during his entire tenure, whereas Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger in California faced a Democratic-controlled legislature during his years as governor. We would certainly expect such conditions to inhibit optimum policymaking on the governor's part.

In Oregon's election of 1990, when Democrat Barbara Roberts became governor, Measure 5, a ballot initiative, passed narrowly and at the same time the spotted owl became a cause célèbre. ...