Burnt Orange Report

Umm...could like someone tell Vilma Luna that she is in fact a Democrat...at least that's what it says next to her name...I mean come on...did she get money from TRMPAC in 2002???. The Texas Observer Blog (http://www.texaslegislatureobserved.com/) has the other D's that might as well just implant their lips on Mr. Speaker's ass...between her, Turner, and Edwards...sheesh

And Keel is a total lame ass...only in Texas would clean campign finance laws be considered a partisan shot at the Speaker. Mary Denny has also got to be one of the most comtemptible hacks in the House...and considering the Lege...that's quite a title!

Representative Luna served as Vice Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party before being elected to the House. She is a partner in what, in just a cycle or two, has become the top plaintiff firm contributor to Democratic candidates in the state. She is also on the conference committee for the General Appropriations Act and one of its few (if only) advocates for children. She is the loving mother of a disabled child and has curbed even MORE severe budget cuts because she is willing to play the game and cast votes where they count -- not just tilt at windmills.

Purity is all well and good, but effectiveness and common sense improves all of our lives in this day and age.

Her vote today didn't matter; her advocacy in Conference will matter to a great deal of people in need -- not just to people who demand total partisan loyalty at all cost.

Well, if only all of us were loving mothers and big wig trial lawyers, we could just wipe away all the bad in the world...

I don't demand partisan loyalty at all costs. This bill had 92 cosponsors (including Mr. Peña, who voted against the motion to bring it to the floor!) and in case you're keeping score there are only 63 Democrats in the Texas House. This SHOULD NOT be a partisan issue. Ms. Luna's advocacy for the poor or vulnerable is not in question in regard to healthcare or education or housing or whatever. This is about cleaning up elections and campaigns in the state of Texas. The Republican leadership sat on this bill so long, I'm pretty sure Mary Denny needs a hemorrhoid cushion. Putting this off will just keep the cycle of dirty money going...one day the poor and vulnerable are going to be irreversibly screwed because they will not have an effective say in the politics of this state...how effective will Rep. Luna be then when she's booted out of office by a challenger with corporate money?? This bill was far from perfect but it was a good start...Texas is already "wide open for bidness"...it appears the Legislature thinks it should be as well...

And I will add....and I don't think I'm being an unyielding partisan here....that Democrats SHOULD support clean elections and ethical government. This is a no-brainer to me...it's the right thing to do. The GOP certainly seems to want nothing to do with it and we can't just keep playing along helping them scam their way to bigger majorities.

This is not about party loyalty. A few misguided "campaign finance" advocates killed the bill two weeks ago.

I am dumb. But more than two decades in the House have taught me that you must work the process.

The bill probably would have gotten to the floor if Citizens for Clean Campaigns and Fair Elections and ... shit ... whatever that group's name is, would have let the process work. But that, of course, would have disrupted the organization's fundraising!

Craig Eiland and Todd Smith are two are the smoothest House operators. They had a decent chance to succeed, but the "reformers" took away their chance for victory.