At Long Last, Perry Fires Abramoff Tied Lobbyists

There is one major difference between Governor Perry and President Bush: When things are heavily criticized, Governor Perry sometimes gets the message and changes course.

Call it, “The New Way Forward For State-Federal Relations.” Or, just call it “Better Late Than Never.” Either way, thank your lucky stars Condi Rice and Dick Cheney are not involved.

That’s right folks: Governor Perry is cancelling the lobby contracts with the Abramoff-tied lobby firms that cost the state millions and accomplished nothing that the state’s 32 Congressmen and women and two Senators didn’t actually deserve the real credit for.

Needless to say, House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam (D-Waco), who has been one of the loudest critics of the contracts, was quite pleased by this development:

“Well, it’s about time. House Democrats have been calling on Governor Perry, Speaker Craddick and Lt. Governor Dewhurst to cancel these exorbitant and unnecessary lobby contracts since 2003, when we first offered legislation to stop wasting more than $1.1 million state taxpayer dollars on two Abramoff/DeLay cronies. For four year, House Republicans voted to protect these corrupt lobbyists. I am happy to see that our efforts have finally paid off.”

Rep. Pete P. Gallego had similar sentiments:

“I am glad we are cleaning up the mess in Washington; but unfortunately, here in Texas these same lobbyists will still have special access to the back halls of the Capitol where everyday Texans cannot go. Texas House Democrats have a lot more to do in the continuing fight for more open and honest government.”

Rep. Garnet Coleman, Chair of the Legislative Study Group, had additional comments:

“The incestuous nature of the money game through the use of policy initiatives has got to stop, and this is a good first step. We still must cut out the rest of the cancer that has grown in our state and federal government.”