Grading the Texas Legislature: F in Governance, A+ in Hatred

By Carol Morgan

don’t watch TV, but the televised online hearings and sessions in Austin are as trashy and repugnant as any reality show. It shows the unfathomable depths of ignorance, aggressiveness, and hatred that’s become characteristic of the 84thLegislature of Texas.

If you want to see your state government at work you need to watch. I guarantee you, it will motivate you to vote. Don’t watch too much though…it will make you extremely depressed. That’s where I am today.

Today may be April Fool’s day, but for the Crazy Faction of the Lege, it’s been fools-on-parade since January. For the wild-eyed crazies of the Texas Tea Party, everything is about how much hatred a lawmaker can legislate; they are compelled to out-crazy the crazies for attention. And the circus ringmaster of the Senate, Dan Patrick is taking selfies of everyone from Sheets to Burton as if the 84th is one big fraternity party.

Sad to say that two female legislators are vying for the dubious title of writing the greatest amount of hate legislation. That sweet little flower of womanhood from Oklahoma, Donna Campbell has authored nothing but hate legislation. She even called our public schools a “monstrosity” and she disrespected educational witnesses during the voucher hearings. She’s working really hard to earn the $20,000 that James Leininger gave her.

House Representative Molly White must have been ignored as a child, because she constantly cries out for attention from the media. Hate Muslims? No problem. Hate LGBT people? She’s on it! Her delusions of grandeur are so great that she authored a bill that will supercede the Supreme Court of the United States.

One of the most laughable is the Bedford garden gnome who’s masquerading as a lawmaker. Ever dramatic and fear-inducing former fetus, Jonathan Stickland predicted “blood” in yesterday’s budget fight (a tweet that has since been deleted).

Most discouraging of all is the anemic participation of our local House reps, Mr. Frullo and Mr. Burrows. You’d have to dig deep, deep, deep within the internet to find any comments from them (they only speak on KFYO—this says a great deal—doesn’t it?). They lack the requisite passion to be representing our area, our water interests, and our agriculture. The only thing standing in the way of a state takeover of our aquifers (groundwater) are the groundwater conservation districts (GCDs). Doesn’t that make you feel secure in their representation?

Business and industry is getting more than their money’s worth, but we’re not getting ours. The Extremists in the Lege want to make sure their corruption and cronyism is swept under the rug, even though Texas taxpayers have lost more than $1billion dollars to their misappropriation and theft.

Over and over we hear "we don't have the money", yet a cool $19 billion has been set aside in a bank somewhere for conservative donors.

We should issue a hefty state fine to the people who voted for these clowns.

Paul Burka’s last post for Texas Monthly sums it up more eloquently than I ever could:


In his 40 years of writing for TM, Paul Burka has witnessed a change for the worst in our state lawmaking body. And if you’ve been watching the online carnival of destruction of our once-great state, I’m certain you’ll agree with him too.

The 84th has a passion for A-F grades; proven by Kel Seliger’s new education ratings system (which is nothing more than a waste of money and reinventing the wheel). Using their own strategy, I give the GOP members of the Texas Legislature an “F” this year. Under the old ratings system that would be “academically unacceptable”. Just like a failing school that never improves, Texans should demand some form of closure for this failing institution.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carol Morgan is a career/college counselor, a freelance writer, and former Democratic candidate for the Texas House. She is the award-winning author of two books: Of Tapestry, Time and Tears and Liberal in Lubbock. Email Carol at elizabethcmorgan@sbcglobal.net , follow her on Twitter and on Facebook or visit her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org

http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2015-04-01/grading-texas-legislature-f-governance-hatred#.VRxUJeHy3SI

Permission granted to post Carol's blog in its entirety.