Tuesday, July 26, 2005

The fence-sitter


The Texas House voted yesterday to increase the pay of state district judges and thereby increase their own pensions.

Our Man in Austin, State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, voted "present not voting."

One supposes Bonnen figures this is the most prudent course of action as he can say he didn't want to vote against increased pay for our hard-working judges but also didn't want to vote to increase his own compensation.

But as it stands, he voted for nothing. It's this kinda fence-sitting, playing both ends against the middle, that gives politicians a worse name than they already have.

It's kinda like what a comic once said about bisexuals -- pick a hole, any hole, just pick one and get off the fence.

Sorry to be so crude. But that's what Bonnen's nonvote reminded me of.
[statesman.com]
[chron.com]
[HB11 roll call vote]

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone think Texas voters support pay raises for Texas judges?

Yet, according to the roll call vote and comments you linked above, 115 Texas house members think we do.

Banjo Jones said...

because they represent "law 'n order?"

Anonymous said...

:^D :^D :^D :^D

I thought they were just another branch of the parasite lawyer class, myself!