The legislature is back in session and Rep. Paul Tine is in the spotlight. Tine, who was just re-elected as Democrat is switching his party registration to Independent and caucusing with Republicans. According to the News & Observer, Tine said he left because he’s a fiscal conservative who has become disenchanted with his party and believes he can ‘get more done’ by joining Republicans.”
Well, that’s not what he told his former Democratic colleagues in an email after the November election. He criticized the Republicans for “egregious actions” and called on his then-fellow Democrats to become “the party with the answers.” Doesn’t sound like he was too enamored with the GOP two months ago.
In his email, Tine was clearly upset with the House leadership and wanted changes. He believed that the caucus needed to give more influence to moderates. He also wanted leadership to be “restructured” so at least one position, Deputy Minority Leader, was not elected, but appointed. And he wanted staff changes. It seems he left because he didn’t get his way.
Tine’s complaints were more about process than ideology. Now, he’s thrown his lot with people with whom he has little in common ideologically. Republican policies caused a hospital in his district to close and Tine has said he supports Medicaid expansion, something incoming Republican Speaker Tim Moore opposes. Two counties in his district also had among the highest teacher turnover rates.
As an independent in a caucus that already has a veto-proof majority, Tine has little to offer the Republicans other than to insult the Democrats. He will probably have less influence on Republicans than he did with Democrats and, unless he changes his positions, he will agree with them less. With shrinking revenues and anti-government majority, there won’t be many spoils for his district, either.
Paul Tine made a move that’s more about Paul Tine. People in his district tell me that his goal is to take on Congressman Walter Jones, Jr. They say Tine’s switch to independent is a transition to Republican because Tine believes he can beat Jones in a GOP primary but doesn’t think he can win as a Democrat.
Maybe that’s it. Maybe Tine just decided to take his ball and go home. Regardless, he traded a position of little influence for a position of little influence. I doubt he’ll be an independent in a Republican caucus for long. He’s a man in transition.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
It’s interesting that Tine squeaked in with a 1-point margin in 2012 (a more Democrat-friendly year) but widened his margin to 7 points in 2014 (a Republican-friendly year). So, he wasn’t losing ground electorally as a Democrat. There must be other reasons.
I disagree that Tine is just taking his ball and going home. Republicans have control of NC gov as it stands now. How can you blame a self proclaimed moderate who has publically emphasized bipartisanship for trying to actually get things done for his district? He is an advocate for his constituents and is operating around a realistic understanding of current politics. For Dems. who voted for him simply along party lines, maybe this is a helpful reminder that blurring political lines to accomplish meaningful progress doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I applaud this move and think condemning Tine personally benefits this state or the Outerbanks in no capacity.
Tine is clearly an opportunist, he wouldn’t have a prayer against Walter Jones. Say what you will about our good representative from Farmville, he’s not a phony and he’s not afraid to buck the leadership and vote his convictions. He’s got that seat for life if he wants it, just like his daddy.
Jones is too focused on his religious beliefs, too righteous in his approach to politics, and just a bit out of touch with reality. If he spent more time thinking about legislation and coalition-building, and less time praying at every meeting and lectern, his constituents and the NC coast would be better off. And he’s not half the representative his “daddy” was.
I don’t have any sympathy for Tine. He sounds like a “young man on the make.” I wouldn’t be surprised if his ultimate goal is to pull a Heath Shuler: A red-district Congressman, then a Duke Energy lobbyist, then rich.
The more I read about Tine, his pronouncements when leaving the Dems, and his electoral/legislative track record, the more it seemed that there was something beyond political ideology behind his decision. It may well be ambition.
Thomas, if what you wrote comes to fruition then there would be real irony in one party switcher (Walter Jones, Jr.) being challenged by another party switcher (Paul Tine.)