Freshman Lawmaker Gets a Lesson in Pack Behavior
This is one in a series of occasional stories about ethics and transparency in the part-time Texas Legislature.
Only the brave and the foolish go against the legislative pack — even when they are on the side of the angels.
State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, in his first appearance before a legislative committee, got a full hazing as the author of an ethics bill that apparently sounds better to the people who don’t have to comply than to the officeholders it would regulate.
Capriglione, a freshman, came to Austin with what seems like an idea born in a high school ...
Comments (9)
Dormand Long
I am clueless as to Representative Capriglione's abilities to legislate governance or his critical thinking skills, but I shall be looking into his track record.
We need more people with his courage to recognize where things are wrong and to actually do
something about it, freshman or not.
I suggest that Representative Caprigloione's constituents in Southlake are delighted that this newby that they have elected to public office has not fallen into that trap of enjoying the creature comforts made available by the many nefarious lobbyists who seek to skew the laws in favor of special interests and against the sound public policies that will benefit the general population of Texas.
GO FROSH!!!!!!!
John Johnson
Bravo, Giovanni. Yank the curtains down and allow light to shine in. Cite examples of shady dealing and force those fighting for the status quo to show your suggestions a little more respect. Righteous indignation can be easily overcome if you continue to apply pressure and the media picks up on it. Call them and let them know what you are doing. You can be successful and be re-elected without making friends down there and becoming a member of the pack.
Pickles Sorrell
I followed both these campaigns and the Truitt's appear to be deaf to ethics and even the appearance of impropriety. In 2010, Jim Truitt was trounced when he ran for District Clerk. Vicki Truitt alsoused a lobbyist to run her campaigns. And Vicki Truitt was supporting a local option gas tax over the overwhelming objections of her constituents. Now Vicki Truitt is back in Austin representing a pay day lender - the very group she was ripping to shred in the last legislative session. Clearly, Vicki Truitt was well past her expiration date as this milk had gone sour.
All that said, clearly this Capriglione fella thinks he is on a mission from God. He might have been well meaning but this guy needs to buy a clue. I happened to be watching this bill presentation online when Rep. Hilderbran was attacking Capriglione. Hilderbran's comments were over the line and I believe in violation of House rules. Hilderbran's expiration date has also come and gone and it's time he moved on.
So let's give Capriglione an A- for good intentions and a D on delivery. Eventually he may figure out this is Austin and not Newark or ALbany.
Gritsforbreakfast
If his bill seems like "an idea born in a high school civics class," the hazing of freshmen is also reminiscent of high school. That said, legislative memories are short. He'll remember lessons from the episode as a formative legislative moment, one imagines, but it won't be long before his colleagues forget all about it.
In all, I've been really impressed with this year's freshman class. They're green, inevitably, and a little raw, but for the most part show great promise.
Rudy Gonzales
Who is that masked man?
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Kudos to Giovanni Capriglione; he is doing what he was SENT to do, which many others down there have forgotten. A number 'Go along to get along' guys are being sent home every election cycle of late, while those that don't ARE getting returned to office. And it WILL continue until the lesson is learned.
Mack Green
Re Pickles: Capriglione may figure out that Austin IS like Newark and Albany.
John Johnson
Re: Pickles... Where do you get your information? I agree with you in one respect. Truitt is the epitome of what is wrong with our political system today. She reminds me of Kim Brimer and Troy Fraser. Pure slime.
But with regards to the local option tax on fuel in the Metroplex to prevent total traffic gridlock, you don't know what you are talking about. Our North Texas Council of Government with people like Corona and Wendy Davis working on the issue together, decided that this needed to be put to vote here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It was truly a bi-partisan decision, and it got shot down in Austin.
I repeat... you don't know what you're talking about.
R L
Truitt = Sleeze.