This morning Clay Robison wrote about Senator Dan Patrick's potential anger over the possibility of being left out of the Senate Finance Committee.
"If I am not on finance (next year), I will be upset," Patrick said.
He said Harris' appointment unfairly gives the Dallas-Fort Worth area a 5-2 edge over the Houston area on the 15-member panel. And one of the Houston-area senators, Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, represents only a small part of the city. Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, also is on the committee.
San Antonio, meanwhile, has no resident on the Finance Committee, although the panel's vice chairman, Democrat Judith Zaffirini of Laredo, represents part of the Alamo City. I am sure she believes she represents the city's interests very well.
Most legislators want seats on budget-writing committees so they are well-positioned to bring home the bacon - a new wing for a university building or additional grants for the local medical school. But not Patrick. He wants to be on the finance panel, he said, to cut back on spending.
He voted against the budget drafted by the Finance Committee last year, even though the panel has a 2-1 GOP majority. The committee needs, he said, a "strong Republican voice," a comment sure to warm the hearts of several Republican budget-writers.
Oh weep.
Perhaps Senator Patrick doesn't understand how this state's representation works. Each state Senator represents about the same amount of Texans. If we're going to base appointments on the cities of the state, that disenfranchises a good million or two voters.
So what Lieutenant Governors often use is their judgement on who would best fit in each committee. For Finance, that entails the Senators with the best knowledge on how to finance the Texas Government's spending. Perhaps if Dan Patrick suggested innovations besides cutting the budget, he'd receive more consideration.
As far as a "strong Republican voice;" if Dan Patrick is the only strong Republican voice in the Texas Senate, than the state's Republican party is in more trouble than even optimistic Democrats believe.
Tomorrow, The Texas District and County Attorneys Association will anoint State Senator Dan Patrick their "Freshman of the Year."
State Sen. Dan Patrick, the outspoken Houston radio show host who made waves in the upper chamber last spring, will soon have a new title: Top freshman.
Tomorrow, the Texas District and County Attorneys Association will honor the Republican senator with its Freshman of the Year Award, for his work on criminal justice and public safety issues during his first session as a lawmaker.
Odd, isn't it? This is the State Senator who went against the entire Senate and its traditions. He later fought John Whitmire while working with the media instead of his fellow legislators.
His Justice policy? Well, for starters, he killed an Innocence Commission that would likely have helped avoid the conviction of innocent Texans.
Oh, yeah: one more issue. I haven't quite mentioned that Texas Monthlyrated him among its Worst Legislators of 2007. He was among the Texas League of Conservation Voters' worst, too. Are there rankings for any type of Justice policy? I'm glad you asked: Grits for Breakfast puts Mr. Patrick as one of the worst Texas legislators in Criminal Justice Policy.
Best Freshman? I am entirely skeptical on the possibility of Senator Patrick being the best any-kind-of-legislator.
Never a hypocrite, Sen. Dan Patrick reviews a sonogram with a young Texan at Hooters. Patrick's SB 920, relating to informed consent to an abortion, is pending at House state affairs. Photo and post concept courtesy of Miya Shay's ABC 13 blog in Houston.
Half of the people can be part right all of the time,
Some of the people can be all right part of the time.
But all the people can't be all right all the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that.
"I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours,"
I said that.
--"Talkin' World War III Blues," by Bob Dylan
In the upcoming session, Republicans will be their own worst nightmare, while Democrats will help answer dreams for the future of Texas.
In November, I thought the levels of Republican failure had topped out. Tom Delay, once the most powerful politician in the country, was trounced by a Democrat in his home state of Texas. Delay still managed to hurt Texas, though, as his illegal redistricting map forced Texas to be as weak nationally as its ever been when Democrats took control of the U.S. Congress. The redistricting map Delay ramrodded down the throats of the Texas Legislature took out senior Democrats that could have served on powerful committees, unfortunately before it was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.
I've read that today has already been named, "Bloody Tuesday," and that the next 140 days, as the Texas Legislature meets to discuss, debate, and enact legislation that will change the future of Texas, is going to be an all-out war. But as we gavel the beginning of the new Texas Legislature, I can't help but wonder -- where are the lines drawn?
The battle lines are drawn back and forth, up and down, right and further right...across the Republican Party of Texas.
The havoc wrought by the horrid leadership of "The Terrible Toms" -- Craddick and Delay -- has undercut the leadership ability of the entire Republican Party. Exactly who do they look to for leadership -- a Governor who was elected by less than 40%, a Lieutenant Governor who is terrified of its newest member, Dan Patrick, or a Texas House that, as it is gaveled into session, does not know who its presiding officer will be.
Meanwhile, Texas Democrats are fighting to move Texas forward by advancing one basic principle: I'll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours.
What does that mean? Trust the Democrats to lead (let them be in your dream), and find solutions to the real problems facing Texas (we will be in yours).
What am I talking about? I'm talking about eliminating tuition deregulation and making college affordable for every Texas family. I'm talking about restoring health care benefits for over 200,000 Texas children. I'm talking about lower electricity rates, lower insurance rates, and a minimum wage increase that honors the hard-working people of Texas.
In the upcoming session, Republicans will be trying to elbow their egos out of Dan Patrick's shadow -- all while Democrats attempt to revamp the teacher retirement system. In the upcoming session, Republicans will argue about how little they can spend to help Texans -- all while Democrats look to invest in better opportunities for all Texans.
In the upcoming session, Republicans will be their own worst nightmare, while Democrats will help answer dreams for the future of Texas. Stick around -- it's going to be a wonderful time.
What do the two have in common? Patrick and Friedman are both lousy, loud-mouthed Texas political figures. I can't imagine what they'd be like together in the same room. If you're in Houston, you might want to turn in 700 AM this afternoon just to hear what happens.
