State Rep. David Lewis, a committee chairman, is running for House GOP leader. He is making calls to Republican lawmakers saying he wants to serve alongside Ruth Samuelson.
Republican are considering splitting the majority leader post. Lewis wants the operations end of the job that would run the daily calendar and manage the caucus agenda. Samuelson is campaigning for the bigger picture strategic job.
In an interview Thursday, Lewis said the unprecedented move to split the position between two lawmakers would not cost taxpayers more money. State law gives majority and minority leaders about $4,300 more than average lawmakers but Lewis said he and Samuelson would split the money. "You get two for the price of one," he said. The caucus will make a decision about whether to have two GOP leaders at a Nov. 17 meeting.
As for whether Lewis is interested in speaker in 2014 -- a race that will shade the entire session -- he demurred. "I'm going to give you the answer you expect," he started. "The race is a good two years too early."
