On Tuesday I had the day off so I called up my friend Sean and he and my roommate Mike, and myself went downtown to just check stuff out. We parked, looked at the really amazing new City Hall...and then walked semi-aimlessly though downtown to the State Capitol. Of course, it's an attractive building, so we walked inside.
We met a couple of lobbysts in the elevator...there were lobbyists, people in suits on cellphones each with a representing a private interest, everywhere. After taking the elevator up to the fourth floor of the rotunda we ran into another lobbyist who asked us if we wanted to see a bunch of lobbyists waiting like wolves outside the door of the legislature, of course we obliged and he led us there and there they were. Then the fact struck me that we could actually go in and watch our Government in action...so we did. It was the last day of the session so things were pretty animated. Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs), who represents Texas State University (and does so very well, I would have voted for him if I lived in his district) was trying to push an admendment that would help students...however he withdrew it, apparently to iron some things out. The rest of what we saw was somewhat comical. One representative proposed an amendment to give college credit for a certian pre-College program that is used in several states and has the support of the Bush Adminstration. He was immediately assailed by a seemingly very conservative rep, who probably would have wrapped himself in an American flag if it fit the dress code, who attacked the program as being, basically, a socialist United Nations brainwashing tool of Satan. Ah the "L" card. His argument was soundly and forcefully dismissed allthough I didn't get to stick around to see what became of the program.
As we left another Rep proposed an amendment that would have the state reemburse the college tuition for any Freshman who earns a 3.0 in their first academic year.
Right...
I'm going to go buy a fleet of Lear Jets.
- Jordan
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