May 29, 2015 2:50 PM

Smith: It is the Democrats Who Are Champions of Economic Freedom

From the Left: Quorum Report’s liberal columnist Glenn W. Smith argues that the 84th legislative session makes it clear that it's the Democrats and not Tea Party Republicans that are the true champions of economic freedom

As the curtain begins its descent on the political burlesque known as the 84th session of the Texas Legislature, some obvious if impertinent questions need asking.

How, for instance, does the Tea Party-dominated Legislature justify turning down billions in federal Medicaid dollars and condemning millions of Texans to unnecessary illness and death because of lack of health care?

About all you ever hear by way of an excuse for this callous and cold-hearted failure is something like, “Medicaid is broken.” Well, not quite as broken as the backs of Texas’ poor and middle class, you know, the people that actually do the work of building Texas’ future.

Another question: Why was this extremist Legislature so determined to grant itself de facto immunity from criminal prosecution? Lawmakers dismantled the centralized Public Integrity Unit in Travis County and created a new scheme where lawmakers can be investigated only by their brothers-in-law back home (I exaggerate, but only slightly).

The complete column by Glenn W. Smith can be found in the R&D Department.

By Glenn W. Smith