Kindly said, be simple

Do you see him? An endangered Texas horned toad in the pasture. Sometimes what looks safe, still needs protection. (© image)

Simple. Not complex. Uncluttered with things not necessary.

A concept revived periodically by stylists, gurus, authors, but, sadly, not by politicians.

How hard is it? Keep it simple: one topic for each piece of legislation.

TX Senate Bill 1804. Itself victimized, then vetoed.

Originally a widely supported domestic violence bill which required officials to notify victims when offenders were bonded out or released from jail.

Should have been a simple no brainer.

But things are never simple. Especially with proposed bills. There are sneaks about.

At the last minute, Representative Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, added a section delaying until 2021 fees paid by Waste Control Specialists, a for-profit operator of a state-regulated radioactive waste dump near Andrews. Those fees, which are due to the state this year, are for a perpetual care account to be used in case anything goes wrong at the waste site.

Obviously something that has nothing to do with the main body of this bill – a special interest addition.

Nevárez offers a defense by saying it’s unknown if the Governor vetoed the bill because he doesn’t want to protect victims of domestic violence or if he didn’t want to support economic competitiveness of an existing Texas industry.

Pretty simple to see what’s important to this Representative. OK, it’s not pretty.

“Making a list. Checking it twice. Gonna find out which representatives are naughty and nice.” (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

The Waste company insisted lower fees were needed to stay competitive to other sites. Simply necessary…

Hey, besides it’s humanitarian! It’s compassionate to take in all the waste materials from cancer treatments. We all want to help cancer patients and doctors, right?

And those young, injured soccer and football players, too – Xray stuff has to end up somewhere. It’s for the children! We all love children!

Another proposed bill would have reduced the company’s fees to the state by $4.2 million, but that one never made it to the floor…so a little sneak attack instead, courtesy of Nevárez.

Environmentalists hate the waste site and radioactive materials brought in from other places as they worry about ground water contamination – among other things.

Governor Abbot, recognizing people aren’t happy about anyone dumping their radioactive waste on Texas or a company trying too skip out on their obligations and responsibilities, was caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea. He vetoed #1804. (Read article here)

Unfortunately a good domestic violence bill has been lost. 

Simple shame.

(and you betcha there’s a name to watch for during the next legislative session)

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

Check their records and make them face the music. Obsessive, perhaps, But darn right cowardly and dastardly deed using victims to a piggyback of your special interest legislation.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

 

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