Dan Patrick (R-Showboat)
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» Burka: Post-Mortem on Patrick
» Kuff: "I've got a list"
Others have the recap, I've got audio. I'd mix some video, but time is tight. In the interim, enjoy the finest 20 minutes or so of audio entertainment that involves the phrase "parliamentary inquiry."
Clip One: (5:03)
Mario Gallegos on the budget
Clip Two: (9:27)
Dan Patrick is sick and tired of post-heart surgery Senators getting in the way of his showboating, some parliamentary discussion with Ogden & Dewhurst, Sen. Lucio offering a subtle rejoinder to Patrick.
Clip Three: (6:47)
Whitmire's Fury
In the end, Patricia Kilday Hart has one salient point that's worth underscoring ...
He showed complete ignorance of, and contempt for, the budgetary process. When Patrick made his initial comments on the floor, he had the audacity to tell war-weary Steve Ogden that he thought it would be a good idea if a specially-appointed commission study the state budget during the interim. What does he think Ogden's been doing with his life the last few sessions? Shortly after both Tommy Williams and Judith Zaffirni went into lengthy detail about how many hours the committee had met, and agency budget requests were vetted through the Legislative Budget Board, the state auditor, comptroller performance reviews, etc., etc. Patrick never seemed to catch on that they were responding to him. I think Patrick was in the Senate Lounge by that point. As one Senator said to me, "If you already know everything, you don't have to waste time listening.Among all of Patrick's statements, one insult stands out brightest. He asked Ogden how much he had to give away in order to secure 21 votes to bring up the budget. I have no doubt that certain state programs are well-protected. No one's going to worry too much over in College Station as long as Ogden is chairman. But the bulk of the real fights in Finance arose over how best to deliver services: waiting lists versus doctor compensation rates; how to best distribute public ed dollars; how to reign in TxDOT and exactly what staffing levels does TYC need to clean up its act. When I heard Patrick's question, I thought, this is a guy who doesn't believe in government spending at all.
By the way, Patrick never did send his list of "savings" to the press. We're all still waiting.
good smack down by Whitmire!
This business doesn't have anything to do with Patrick trying to be an effective state senator. It's about him generating enough video material that he will use in a future campaign for Lt. Gov. against Dewhurst. I'm afraid that John Whitmire rose to the bait and gave Patrick just what he was after.
Dan Patrick is a breath of fresh air, friend. I believe he, as far as it is possible, will stand by his principles. He's disturbing the waters for some entrenched politicians.
Yeah, as long as you don't want him to actually accomplish anything.
It just amazes me how much Republicans reward their own partisans despite a lack of movement on the very issues they claim as "principles." I mean, can you actually name one cut that was made as a result of Patrick's little act? How disturbing do you think anyone finds it that you can let him do his little dance for the cameras, laugh at him, and know that when the camera lights go off and his radio time is done, he's accomplished absolutely nothing?