Conflict Of Interest? What? Not Sid Miller!

I guess we can just chalk this up to another moment of drama in what has become the WORST. SESSION. IN. HISTORY. PERIOD.

A state representative whose wife founded and operates a charter school is trying to kill a bill that would close the lowest-performing of these facilities, and he says he sees no conflict of interest in his efforts.

Republican Rep. Sid Miller’s wife, Debra, is the director of a Stephenville charter school that primarily serves at-risk children.

Mr. Miller said he’s armed with amendments to kill the bill, crafted by Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, to reward the best charter schools and close the worst. The measure is scheduled for debate today in the House.

Mr. Miller’s opponents call his efforts an obvious conflict of interest. They say that because his wife works for a charter school, he shouldn’t even be voting on the bill – let alone churning out amendments to thwart it.

(Ok, it’s what? Five, six days until Sine Die? Time for the gloves to come off…)

No shit, Sherlock. Of course it’s a conflict of interest. One would think common decency, common sense, and simple good, quality, ethical behavior would come in to play. Oh, wait, I forgot—this is House Republicans we’re talking about.

However, other Republicans have at least (gasp!) a bit more ethical of a compass (at least, when it comes to this bill):

“Let’s just say I would be very uncomfortable if it were my situation,” said Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, a House sponsor of the bill. “Of course, I’d be concerned if the Legislature was messing with my business. But I would stop short of pushing any [voting] buttons.”

And, of course, get what Miller has to say about his intention to vote:

“I have no intent to abstain” from the debate, Mr. Miller said Monday. “This is a broad topic, a statewide issue. Education is our No. 1 priority.”

First off, neither he nor a million Texas teens any intent to abstain. (That’s my “abstinence only education” joke for the session.) Second, it may be a “broad statewide issue,” but his wife is also deeply involved in it and brings home a paycheck because of it. Hello.

Perhaps point-of-order-happy Debbie Riddle should raise a point of order on Rep. Miller:

The Texas Constitution says that any lawmaker who has a “personal or private interest in any measure or bill, proposed or pending before the Legislature” must disclose the conflict to the chamber and not vote.

Um hum. We’ll be *eagerly* awaiting that disclosure.