Do these guys sound like reformers to you?

Via Pink Dome, the Quorum Report catches our old buddy Andy Taylor making with the crazy talk again.

During a break in the TRMPAC civil trial proceedings this morning, attorney Andy Taylor told reporters that he would be spearheading an effort to clean up Texas election law financed by a number of large contributors

"First, clarity must be a cornerstone of our campaign finance laws in Texas," he said. "Second, we must protect Texans’ rights to criticize and comment on the activities of our elected officials and government policies."

"Finally, crucial decisions about free speech in the political arena must be made by citizens and the lawmakers they’ve elected to represent them, not by any single judge or jury," he said. "Issues of free speech that form the foundation of our democracy should be addressed in the statehouse, not the courthouse."

The list of "reformers" that Taylor has by his side includes oil mogul Louis Beecherl, who (as noted by Clean Up Texas Politics) hired Bill Ceverha as a consultant, and Bob "Big Money" Perry. Somehow, I don't see these boyos supporting either of the two bills filed so far that would actually do some campaign finance reform. What they are up to, I don't yet know, but it wouldn't surprise me if it includes support for the session's worst bill so far. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: It's on the wires now.

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle weighed in Thursday on Taylor's announcement, saying that Texas election law for 100 years has prevented corporations or labor unions from making political contributions.

"Any 'clarity' that Mr. Taylor and his seven large contributors want to bring to that law should be viewed with alarm by every Texan who is not one of Mr. Taylor's seven," Earle said. "The law was never vague until certain large monied interests sought to evade it in order to control Texas elections. Then they said it was vague."

Indeed.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 03, 2005 to Scandalized! | TrackBack