Bill Ratliff, Free to Speak His Mind, Tackles Budget
Watch what politicians say when they no longer have to watch what they say.
Bill Ratliff, a former lieutenant governor and state senator, chaired the Senate's education and finance committees at various times. In real life, he's an engineer and does some lobbying. One of his sons, Thomas, is on the State Board of Education. Another, Bennett, is running for an open seat in the Texas House.
The old man is free from the ballot. Off the leash.
Ratliff, who was in office from 1989 to 2003, was never one to honor political dogma. But now he's ...
Comments (14)
gypsy314 ne
Send the free loaders back to there country and our schools and children would have plenty of menoy for there education. The welfare would go done by a few billion too. Housing would be available for our homeless waiting on the list for housing.
Time is coming to pay the piper or are we going to pass it on to our children to take care of our mess.
I think school vouchers are a big key for all the issues we are having with our schools and teachers that are in like flint.
Anyone BUT the Fraud Obama and democrats!
Wilkins Micawber
Bill Ratliff has never kowtowed to political dogma, and he is not one to mince words, either.
If you thought the last legislative session was bad, you ain't seen nothin' yet. This one will be a brawling bloodbath. Nearly half of the House will consist of rookie legislators. The vacancies in leadership positions would give an informed electorate nightmares. Take a look at who has left the Senate: Florence Shapiro, committee chair on Education; Steve Ogden, committee chair on Finance; Chris Harris, committee chair on Jurisprudence; Mike Jackson, Economic Development. I am sure they all have personal reasons for leaving, but I'll bet $10k of Mitt Romney's money that they know what is coming, and don't want to be a part of it.
As long as the political dialogue and elections are dominated by the likes of the previous commenter, the fortunes of this state will continue to swirl downward in an inexorable vortex of porcine ignorance.
Bonnie McGuire
Well said Wilkins! Texas politics have hit a new low, sadly at the expense of our childrens' education and other important services. But what can you expect when our top elected official thinks more of drawing his pension AND his salary than keeping a workable budget for our schools?
Lubulwa Henry Kapou via Texas Tribune on Facebook
ok
Carlos Williams via Texas Tribune on Facebook
As long as we continue to let these tea party wing nuts control our economic philosophy in this state we'll continue to get the same results. Most Texans still haven't figured out how bad the Republican's are screwing us. I think one of their intentions is to get rid of public schools. How anybody in their right mind could think that that would make education better in this state is beyond me. Seems like all we have in the Texas GOP are a bunch of rich hillbillies who just don't get it.
Steven Kite
Public education in Texas is nothing more than a hobbyhorse, and that's been the case for decades... Texans, in general, and specifically Texas "conservatives," have less than no interest in spending Their Tax Money to educate Other People's Children, especially as they see no practical benefit (and a distinct political disadvantage) to an educated middle class or minorities - it'll just make it harder for them to (a) ignore federal law and most of the US Constitution while lying through their teeth about them, and (b) keep their jobs.
Pun Nio via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The one party system in Texas ain't working
Mike C. Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
We've finally reached the day when every citizen of Mississippi can honestly say with a genuine sense of relief, "Thank God for Texas!"
Janice Stalder
If gypsy314 ne truly is a product of our Texas public schools, his ramblings (clichés and grammatical errors, spelling errors, punctuation errors – not to mention logic errors and a lack of factual material) suggest that he may have a legitimate complaint about his education. I am not sure how the “in like flint” phrase (an allusion to the Lee J. Cobb film? A misspelled version of “in like Flynn,” and thus an allusion to “Boss” Flynn’s enviable position in the days of FDR?) applies to teachers, but since I myself am a teacher, I am sure that gypsy314 ne will explain that I am too ignorant to understand his sophisticated use of the English language.
I fear that it is comments such as these and situations such as that described by Bill Ratliff that will create the biggest "mess" for our children!
Ray Grasshoff via Texas Tribune on Facebook
When and where will Texas get more political/legislative leaders like Ratliff, who seemed to always try to put the overall needs of the state and its people above any kind of political dogma. Wasn't he the one who said that he's a Republican only because he agrees with the Republican view 51 percent of the time? We can't get enough people with that type of willingness to look at issues with an open mind and the courage to take the steps necessary to respond to challenges.
jpt51
This is the responsible kind of responsile legislator ALL Texans should be sending to Austin. What a role model and a gentleman. Instead, we're guilty of sending lightweights with big egos or people who's personal ambitions are more important than what's good for the state.
jpt51
Bill Ratliff for governor!!
Debra Haas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The irony of this is that when in office, Gov. Ratliff did listen - and was one of the most thoughtful members of the legislature I ever had the privilege to work with...every time I listen to floor debates, I miss him a little more.
Texas Parents
Our Texas Public Schools are in dire straights. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been pumped into the new STAAR test while schools have simultaneously suffered from teacher lay-offs and other budget-related woes. Our children are now subjected to chronic testing and year 'round test prep. It's time to end this harmful charade that punishes students and obliterates learning. Joint the Opt Out Movement today.