#TXLEGE: 85 state reps STIFF ARM 91% of Texans

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:2

We said our piece yesterday about where "leadership" is taking the house.  Then the taxpayer funded lobbying bill failed.  Empower Texans has a good write up.

Obviously, this is bad.  It's really bad for Republicans.  The coming days will have plenty of time for that fallout.

Before we get to that, however, let's pause and reflect on one fact: 91% of Texans (ie. not just Republicans) oppose taxpayer funded lobbying.

Taxpayer-funded lobbying is hated (*).  It's wildly unpopular.  Yet, 85 state reps (in both parties) chose to continue the practice.

Newt Gingrich used to discuss "85% issues."  Gingrich's idea was to promote a few simple, but overwhelmingly popular, reforms to empower citizens over political insiders.  While Gingrich proposed this federally, the state level parallels are obvious.

Instead, faced with a 91% issue, 85 individual Texas state representatives chose to political insiders.  It's quite something.  Yaaay bi-partisanship!!!

Bottom Line: If you want to understand why voters worldwide are livid with their elected officials, yesterday's vote on SB 29 would be a good place to start.

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* -- People who don't share this author's philosophical disposition have privately told us the most horrifying stories (we're sorry your boss didn't listen).