SAN ANGELO, Texas — Kay Bailey Hutchison’s tap dance about when and then whether to resign from the U.S. Senate brings to mind that old song “Undecided.”
“First you say you do, and then you don’t.
“And then you say you will, and then you won’t.
“You’re undecided now, so what are you gonna do?”
Her latest answer, on March 31, is that she’ll serve out her term. If she does, she’ll turn into a civilian on Jan. 3, 2013.
During her unsuccessful challenge to her fellow Republican, Gov. Rick Perry, the senator told a radio talk show host last July that she’d resign probably in October or November of 2009.
That date shifted into early 2010. She said she was busy opposing President Barack Obama’s health care bill and other initiatives.
Several of the others who wanted to run for her Senate seat, or positions vacated by those who did, saw the Jan. 4 deadline to file for office looming.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced for re-election.
Attorney General Greg Abbott, who wants to run for lieutenant governor, announced for re-election.
Ted Cruz, who wanted to run for attorney general, put his plans on hold.
Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, who also wanted to run for attorney general, announced for re-election.
Then Hutchison postponed her resignation until after the March 2 primary election.
Former Houston Mayor Bill White, a Democrat, switched his sights from the Senate to governor.
Former State Comptroller John Sharp, a Democrat, kept saying he’ll run for the seat whenever it becomes available.
Four weeks after she lost the primary to Perry, Hutchison has decided she won’t resign at all, but will serve out the last 31 months of her term.
This now will be her third full six-year term — one more than the two-term limit she’d set earlier.
“For family reasons, I had planned to begin making a transition home to Texas this spring,” Hutchison said in her statement.
Kay and hubby Ray adopted two children, Kathryn Bailey and Houston Taylor, in 2001.
The children are being schooled in Dallas.
“But it is clear to me that the stakes in our nation’s capitol have never been higher. President Obama’s victory on health care legislation has emboldened those who want an even bigger and more intrusive federal government,” she said.
Hutchison also said every Texas Republican in Congress signed a letter that told her, “if you will stay and fight, we will fight alongside you.”
“On a personal level, this has been a most difficult decision,” Hutchison said, “but after much deliberation, I have decided to complete my term. I will work alongside our great Texas congressional delegation to repeal and replace President Obama’s massive health bill, to stop cap and trade (air pollution) legislation and to cut the deficit the president is building that is putting our economy in peril.”
The senator didn’t mention her votes for much of the debt built up during Texas Republican George W. Bush’s eight years as president. But nobody really expected her to.
Hutchison is the most senior Republican on both the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs — powerful positions in dividing up the budget pie.
Hutchison’s decision is bad news for Sharp, who was counting on the dynamics of a special election. There are no primaries — everyone, regardless of party, runs on the same ballot.
Sharp hoped his residual name identification and moderate record would draw independent voters to add to Democrats, while several GOP hopefuls would split the Republican vote.
In a regular election, he’ll first have to win the Democratic primary, where independent support is harder to come by, and the general election would be against one Republican rather than several.
State Sen. Florence Shapiro, who’d also hoped for a special election so she wouldn’t have to leave the Texas Senate to run, dropped her plans. In 2012, with her Senate seat on the ballot, she would have to run for one or the other.
Ross Ramsey, managing editor of the online Texas Tribune, wondered aloud if Hutchison, who’ll be 69 by her term’s end, might change her mind yet again and run in 2012.
Hutchison and others thought Perry wouldn’t run for a third four-year term. Then two years ago, bumper stickers showed up on some of his buddies’ pickup trucks: “Perry Again in 2010.”
Some thought Perry was holding out the idea of another term to avoid lame-duck status. Turned out he was serious, and he derailed Hutchison’s campaign train.
She may have just given her final answer. But if the Republicans regain control of the Senate this year, Kay could change her mind again. Possible bumper sticker:
“Too Good To Shelve; Kay in 2012.”
Stay tuned.
Dave McNeely is a longtime Texas political commentator. Contact him at davemcneely111@gmail.com.