One dumpster fire after another...

I’ve come to the conclusion that Washington is nuts…BUT it’s not the only seat of government that’s a train wreck.

Recently I went up the Austin with the plan of fighting against a bill in the state legislature that was/is a threat to sustaining underground water reserves across the state.  At the base of the bill, historical water permits in groundwater look to be threatened, the appropriation plan would carve up water to reflect how much land you have equaling the amount of groundwater you would get from the conservation districts.  The language was confusing, and contradictory in many sections.  The one obvious fact was that it was a huge boon for large land owners and potential “water supply companies” who could lease this water up and sell it to the highest bidder.

So, long story short, I arrived at the state capitol about 1 pm on the day of the hearing.  The hearing was slated to start at 2 pm or upon adjournment of the senate.  Fun story, the senate didn’t bother showing up that day until 2 pm.  Nothing like your tax dollars hard at work huh?

The hearing finally gets rolling about 530 pm, if memory serves.  It’s a full house, with people pouring out into the hallways.  We took up all sorts of business.  Business of the state, of the people… you know, like making jokes, and talking about what a great legislator you are.  How committed you are to taking care of the people… I swear I’ve not heard that much glad handing in years.

So, all the bills are heard before they get to the one I’m there for.  Before the chairmen starts he tells us all how if we are there to talk about the historic use aspect, that’s already been solved and we need to respect the time of this committee.

Now I’m not sure where the honorable Senator Perry is from, but in my Texas, everyone’s time is valuable.  For instance, the nearly 12 hours I pissed away just to have him tell me and those like me there that our time really wasn’t as important as his.  I submit that the people’s time is ALWAYS more important than the politicians who serve the people.

Needless to say, I had gotten access to his staff earlier in the day and had made my points well known, as did a few of my colleagues from other utilities.  So, I sat quietly and watched the mess unfold.  The chairmen would roll his eyes, and he would get defensive and he would distract… calling it political theater hardly does it justice.

Long story short, no action taken.  The fight continues. 

Point to the story is this, as bad as the war on water, soil and air is locally, and to be sure there are dozens of bills here in Texas in the legislature currently that fundamentally erode our environment; just imagine how bad this is at the federal level.

Get out there and fight the good fight. 

March in the streets.

Donate your time.

Donate your money. 

Resist.

- until next time

SB 1392