Conservative #TXLEGE members dish some SERIOUS Dirt....

"Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."
1 Peter 5:9

During Tribfest a couple weeks back, several of the most conservative members of the legislature gave a revealing look into how things work in Austin:



[Author's Note: The most interesting stuff is in the second half...not coincidentally, that's when Stickland starts talking.]

Highlights:

• Much better budget this time.

• Patrick (and changing the 2/3rds rule) was the only reason tax relief passed.

• Lege didn't do NEARLY enough on illegal immigration.

• Most of the crony stuff is still there.

• Real spending caps died in the House.

• House leadership killed several pro-life bills.

• Burton: Pre-K "the wrong direction."

• Burton: Even with the 2/3rds rule gone, "you still have to get through" committee chairs.

• Rinaldi: "The House absolutely did kill a bunch of great things the Senate passed."

• Spending caps, school choice, and pro-life examples of things that passed Senate and died in House.

• Stickland: "I have not served in the Texas House with a Republican who campaigned as a moderate."

• Klick: It's getting harder to do one thing in Austin and say something different at home.

• Stickland (re: Straus): "It's not so much about Joe in particular as much as who he's chosen to enable."

• Byron Cook told Stickland the in-state tuition bill wouldn't get a hearing.

• Straus micromanaged his own team to the point where they weren't having fun.

• Stickland calls B.S. on the notion Straus rules "by the will of the members."

• Burton on Seniority: "The longer you're here, the less perks you should get...."

• Stickland: "Well over 30 self-described movement conservatives" running in GOP primary.

• Stickland: Voters are madder and better informed than ever before.

• Bettencourt on Annise Parker: "She has the most failed record: of any mayor in U.S.

• Burton: Cities are actually "political subdivisions" of state.