Posted on 02/09/2006 5:48:03 AM PST by Theodore R.
Laney put off by today's Texas politics BY D. LANCE LUNSFORD AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Former Texas House Speaker Pete Laney, D-Hale Center, spent more than 30 years engaged in the daily wrangling and haggling over legislation, but his last years to serve have never been more contentious, he said Wednesday.
Political campaigns waging war on the South Plains show the growing political partisanship in Austin throughout the last few years, said Laney.
"It didn't used to be that way," he said. "We take pride in the fact that we handled our business in Texas differently than they did in other states."
Noting campaign fundraising in two Lubbock-area House races, Laney questioned hefty donations from Houston and San Antonio.
According to campaign finance reports filed this month by Republican candidate for Texas House District 85 Jim Landtroop of Plainview, Houston home builder Bob Perry contributed two donations totaling $25,000 in October. Landtroop also landed a $5,000 donation that same month from James Leininger, a San Antonio doctor known for hefty contributions.
"Right here in Lubbock, Texas, you're experiencing how people in other parts of the state want to involve themselves in things up here," said Laney, who currently holds the District 85 seat but plans to give it up, announcing his retirement in December.
One of Landtroop's opponents, Drew Mouton of Big Spring, drew in a $5,000 donation from Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay. Mouton said Fraser and his wife are originally from Big Spring.
While Landtroop reported total contributions of $39,073.34 at the end of January and Mouton reported total contributions of $13,300, the third District 85 contender wants to play the middle of the road when it comes to financing his campaign.
"I haven't accepted anything from anyone. So far, everything has come with strings attached, and I don't want to go down that road," said candidate Jerry Middleton, owner of Jerry's, a discount tobacco store in Abilene. "I'm here to represent you, not some fool that's paying for it (a campaign)."
Mouton said that while his own reports show donations from outside the district, Landtroop's high-dollar receipts come with a price.
"The substantial contributions that my opponent is receiving, I believe, represents special interests, which are not of the same philosophy as rural West Texas, and that would bother me if I were considering who to support and who to vote for in this race," said Mouton.
On Wednesday, Landtroop said his campaign has been moving for more than a year. At the time of the Perry contribution, he was the only Republican candidate in the race.
"I've never spoken to Mr. Perry. We share the same values of less government, lower taxes and family values," Landtroop said.
While Laney's speech before a Rotary Club meeting Wednesday carried a varied candor - perhaps more than he's allowed in his 30-plus years in the House - his demeanor indicates a hesitance to pull off the gloves. Describing political candidates as boxes of cereal, Laney said the packaging seems to play a major role in a candidate's success.
"You've got to open up the package and see what's inside."
To comment on this story:
lance.lunsford@lubbockonline.com 766-8795
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It will continue to be partisan until one party takes clear control. Then the other party will sink into oblivion as the GOP did during the 30s, 40s, 60s and 70s.
I love the sound of dims whining in the morning.
It didn't used to be that way because the dims used to control the state ... they don't any more.
The problem is the same as in the US Congress. When the Republicans were in the minority, they were relatively cooperative. When the Democrats are in the minority, they become hostile obstructionists. The Democrats then blame the Republicans for the problem, which the Dems, themselves created.
Yeah, I guess life in Austin would be so much nicer if those pesky Republicans would just go away and leave the Democrats in peace to do whatever they wanted to do.
Meantime all us younger guys...and gals are just sittin' around eagerly awaiting the next exciting update from that ole Spellbinder Haney on how things wuz 30 years ago on the good 'ol Texas plains.
update: Laney.
LOL! Maybe part of the problem is that when the Democrats don't get their way they have a Monte Python moment and all "RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!" to new Mexico or Oklahoma.
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