Chapter 609 - 286: Connecting to Washington

Inside the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg.

Leo had just finished talking with Russo.

Although the speaker had agreed to suspend the rules, Leo knew full well that Russo’s clout in the State Assembly alone wasn’t enough to suppress all opposition.

Especially those Democratic representatives who had taken money from the pharmaceutical companies.

When their interests were on the line, they could flip at any moment.

Leo needed pressure from a higher authority.

He needed the whip from Washington.

As soon as he got to his hotel room, Leo picked up his phone and made a call to Washington.

"Good evening, Chairman Crassus."

Marcus Crassus’s tired and impatient voice came from the other end of the line.

"Leo, do you have any idea what time it is? If you’re calling to complain about our poll numbers in Philadelphia, I suggest you call back tomorrow."

"No, Marcus."

Leo dispensed with the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"I’m calling about the vote on the bill."

"The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is about to vote on my ’Drug Benefit Act’."

"I know." Crassus yawned. "That’s a state matter. Russo said he could handle it."

"He can’t."

Leo’s voice grew cold.

"The pharmaceutical lobbyists are in Harrisburg right now. They’re carrying suitcases full of cash, knocking on the door of every wavering representative. Without intervention, Russo’s motion will never pass the two-thirds threshold."

"So?" Crassus shot back. "You want me to fly over and help you whip votes? Leo, the Democratic National Committee is not your nanny."

"The Democratic National Committee isn’t a nanny, but it is the house."

Leo gripped the receiver tightly.

"Marcus, you know the situation better than I do."

"This is an election year, and Pennsylvania is the linchpin."

"And right now, the voters are watching us."

"They’re watching to see if the Democrat-controlled State House of Representatives can pass a bill that will actually save them money."

"If the bill dies in procedure, if voters see we can’t even solve a problem as simple as drug prices..."

"What will they think?"

Leo’s voice grew sharp.

"They’ll think the Democratic Party is incompetent."

"They’ll think we’re just a bunch of hacks who are all talk and no action."

"That disappointment will spread like a virus, and it will destroy our election prospects in Pennsylvania."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a sarcastic scoff from Marcus.

"Leo, are you taking yourself a little too seriously? Do you think every voter in Pennsylvania is like you, staring at the State Assembly’s legislative agenda every day?"

"As long as you don’t launch one of your damn media offensives, as long as your Pittsburgh Heart doesn’t go around proclaiming this as a failure for our Democratic Party, most voters won’t even know the bill is stalled in committee."

"They don’t have the energy to care whether a bill passes the House of Representatives or not."

"So, don’t try to scare me with the voters. The one who’s really getting anxious is you, isn’t it?"

Leo ignored Crassus’s jibe.

"Marcus, I admit it, I’m anxious," Leo said frankly. "But this bill’s failure is just a tactical setback for me. I can find other ways. But for the entire Democratic Party in Pennsylvania, this will be a strategic rout."

"Those guys in the Republican Party aren’t fools. They’re watching Harrisburg under a microscope. As soon as this bill is killed in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, Richard Taylor will spin it into a national news story the very next day about how Democratic infighting stalled a public welfare bill."

"When that happens, it won’t just be me losing face. The entire party will be paying the price for your incompetence."

The other end of the line fell silent again.

Crassus knew Leo was telling the truth.

At this extremely sensitive time, any legislative failure would be magnified into a crisis of the party’s ability to govern.

Especially in Pennsylvania, a key state that would determine the outcome of the general election.

"Alright." Crassus’s voice turned more serious. "What do you need?"

"I need you to do two things."

Leo held up two fingers.

"First, enforce party discipline."

"I want you to call every single Democratic Representative in Harrisburg. Tell them this vote is a matter of party discipline."

"Even the moderates who’ve taken the money, even the centrists who like to cozy up to the Republican Party."

"They all must vote yes."

"If anyone dares to drop the ball at this critical juncture, if anyone dares to jeopardize the bigger picture for some petty kickbacks..."

"Tell them the Democratic National Committee will cut off all their funding for the next election, and we’ll kick them off the primary ballot."

"I want one hundred percent compliance."

"Just state your needs. I’m the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. I don’t need you to tell me how to handle our Democratic representatives."

Crassus frowned on the other end of the line.

"Besides, your suggestion is too heavy-handed. Forcing the moderates into line like this will cause a backlash..."

"A backlash is better than a failure."

Leo cut him off.

"The second thing."

"Use your personal connections on the Republican side."

"Personal connections?" Crassus scoffed. "Are you kidding me? Partisan division is at an all-time high. We don’t have personal connections with them."

"Stop pretending, Marcus."

Leo called his bluff.

"In Washington, fighting during the day and drinking together at night is the norm."

"I know some Republican Representatives need favors from you on other bills, like agricultural subsidies or infrastructure funding."