Pesky Student Blasts TX Repukes in Resignation Letter

[UTUSN]

******QUOTE*****
http://www.elpasotimes.com/stories/borderland/20030830-15269.shtml

.... Lauren Kasprzak had a front-row seat as assistant clerk of Crabb's redistricting committee in addition to a perspective from the backroom where much of the real politics plays out.

Kasprzak's letter drips with disillusionment.

"The process that we went through during the regular session was a joke," she said in the letter. "The public was excluded in any real decision calculus of the committee. Sure, we held public hearings... on a plan that we never intended to go to the floor. ....

What you are doing is evil. Leave my office," Crabb, an ordained minister, said while booting this reporter into the Capitol corridor. ....

*****UNQUOTE****

[Red_Viking]

1. Ugh, when will it end?

Being a Texan, this is wearing on my last nerve. But, it sounds like some good is coming of it, if people like Lauren can come closer to the light. I should know. Shrubbie single-handedly turned me from a middle-of-the-road Republican to a flaming liberal in just a few short weeks.

Rock on, Texas Dems!

RV

[TacticalPeek]

2. Poor Lauren. Expect Bismarkian sausage-making, sure. But bloodwurst is

is the specialty in the land of the Bugman these days.

http://www.uwm.edu/People/n00dle/story/index.html

At least the link has a happy ending.

[frylock]

3. thanks. just sent this off to my friend who works for rep. doggett.

[UTUSN]

5. You're Welcome. Hadn't Realized It Was on

the "Save Texas Representatives" website:

http://www.savetexasreps.com/

Under the title, "Another Good One: Off the Kuff"

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. So true, so true.

Did you know in local government it's customary to hold meetings by invitation only between special interest and staff? The details are hammered out between the staff members and the special interest groups BEFORE it comes to the floor and before the public even has a chance to know the issue exists. That's where the feeling of the "Dun Deal" legislation comes from. Our laws only require that there are two public meetings held, and that no elected official have any ex parte communications. It doesn't say anything about what happens when you have a city manager who has the nod of approval from the commission and an iron-cast contract for insurance.

[UTUSN]

6. Yep, the Special Interests Literally "Shop" for Sponsors

They write up what they want, then SHOP for friendly "lawmakers" to put their names on the stuff and front it to the public.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. A day late, and a dollar short...

When I was having a crash-course oi community activism, I did finally burn out because I realized that you can't beat city hall. I shared my frustration with a community activist who had come close to succeeding on a growth management issue, but they had taken him to court and gagged him. He didn't share any details, he just said that when you realize what you're up against, you find that the public will always be a day late and a dollar short.