« Thanks Richard | Main | The Sunny Side of Life »
April 28, 2005
Free Speech -- If You Can Afford It
In yesterday's Chronicle, R.G. Ratcliffe penned a very interesting piece about John Colyandro, the indicted former director of Texans for a Repbulican Majority Political Action Committee (TRMPAC) -- Tom Delay's money machine that successfully funded the GOP takeover of the Texas Legislature.
Colyandro, who is also the ED of the Texas Conservative Coalition, and who despite his indictment continues to receive very lucrative lobbying contracts, opposes H.B. 1348, a bipartisan effort to ban corporate and union money, and restrict so-called "issue ads" in Texas elections.
Colyandro believes such legislation would amount to a violation of free speech. An interesting argument from someone who makes his living off of corporate political and lobbying money. And perhaps an unfortunate statement from someone under indictment for money laundering.
The bill, carried by Craig Eiland (D-Galveston) and Todd Smith (R-Bedford), has 93 authors and co-sponsors (out of 150 members), but is stalled in the House Ethics Committee.
Once again, that GOP House leadership sure has its priorities in order. They can move like the wind to rename highways, stop rampant "illegal voting", or solve that enormous state crisis known as gay foster parenting. They're on it!
But making sure the schools don't close, seeing to children's health insurance, or passing meaningful campaign finance reform for the people of Texas? The little stuff can wait.
(Thanks to Ed Martin for the tip.)
Posted by houtopia at April 28, 2005 08:54 AM