Houston Democrats

While I share your disdain for HB3, I do not join in your criticsim of Rep. Al Edwards fpr voting for the bill. I do not know what his reasons were and look forward to asking him that question. It does look to me like this bill hurts poor people the most. BUT -- and this is a big BUT -- we Democrats have to learn to stop criticizing each other and to support one another. This bill passed because REPUBLICANS pushed it -- not because one Democratic legislator from Houston voted for it. Let's criticize REPUBLICANS. I have not always agreed with Rep. Edwards, but he has championed the cause of people of color and the oppressed generally vigorously and effectively for many years. I think we should acknowledge the good things he has stood for, pushed, and supported, and quit criticizing a vote that, as it turns out, didn't matter anyway. If you disagree with this vote, why not send Rep. Edwards a private letter, rather than taking him to task publically. At the very least, we owe him the respect and courtesy of asking him why he voted for the bill. I just wish we Democrats could start pulling together!

Gerry, you’re right.

I should have given Representative Edwards an opportunity to provide an explanation prior to making this post. I have since emailed and called his office requesting an explanation and inviting him to post a comment in response. I hope to hear from him soon.

We Democrats do need to stick together. That is why it’s so disappointing when one of our own votes for a bill that so clearly contradicts the basic tenets of the Texas Democratic Party platform, such as:

• State tax reform should reduce the disproportionately large tax burden now placed on average Texans
• Quality education that gives all Texans the opportunity to reach their potential
• Rewarding honest hard work with a living wage and a tax system that is fair to all taxpayers

I hope we can count on all of our elected Democratic officials to uphold these principles.

In support of Representative Al Edwards, it is his job to read and understand the law and to represent the people of House District 146 to the best of his ability. Consequently, to vote for the bill, he must have some very good reasons for doing so. I think it would be in his best interest to fully explain why he voted for HB 3, when no other Democrat did, and when some Republicans even voted against it.

However, I think we should be careful not end up like the Republican Party, where legislators are afraid to express their opinions for fear of being pushed out of their seats during the next election cycle for not following the party line. When things get to that extent, it is obvious that people suffer to an even greater extent.

Here are some questions that I think need further explanation:

- How does HB 3 make the Texas tax system less regressive? Families in the bottom 20% of the income scale end up paying more than three times as great a share of their earnings as the wealthy, and middle income families pay twice the share of their incomes in taxes as the wealthy.
- How does HB 3 improve funding for public education?

I believe it would be helpful if Representative Edwards provided a summary of the bill outlining what he believes are its key points and how they improve the situation of the citizens of Texas and HD 146. HB 3 is so long and complicated, making it very hard for the average person to understand it.

Therefore, I join the call on Representative Al Edwards to explain his decision on HB 3. We may not end up agreeing with him, but a least we will understand why he chose to support it, which is of particular importance to the citizens of HD 146 who decide who represents them.

I had the opportunity to speak to Representative Edwards today and was impressed with his explanation. More in this post: http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/2005/03/representative.html

Although I have little to contribute to this issue than what might already be known, I am reminded of how the County Chair publicly handled a difficult situation in the last Primary Election involving candidates for State Rep. Dist. 137. Independent of any validity to the Chair's argument, the Chair sets the tone by the Chair's deeds.