Earlier this week, two Chronicle D.C. bureau reporters contributed to a story with the headline, “DeLay takes Texas’ clout in Congress with him.”
The story suggests that Texas Congressional pork may be in jeopardy, now that Texas has no members of Congress in prominent leadership positions:
[W]hen embattled Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, stepped down permanently as House majority leader Saturday, Texas found itself without a rainmaker in a top congressional leadership role.
[snip]
[W]ith DeLay’s departure from the leadership, the top ranks of the House and Senate are void of Texas twangs, and there aren’t any custom-made cowboy boots parked under a committee chairman’s seat other than Barton’s.
[snip]
Beyond bragging rights, there is a practical reason for wanting Texans in congressional leadership jobs. Powerful lawmakers can direct money, programs and projects to Texas.
Houston’s most happening political scientist and bicyclist, Bob Stein, makes an appearance:
Having DeLay in place was vital when federal money was needed for the space program, relief for Hurricane Katrina victims, the Texas Medical Center and other local projects, said Bob Stein, a Rice University political scientist and pollster.
But, Stein said, the Texas leadership void is in large part one of DeLay’s legacies to the state since he spearheaded the controversial 2003 redistricting effort that placed so many freshman members in Congress from Texas — and booted out Democrats with decades of seniority.
Is there a quota at the Chronicle for comments from Bicyclist Stein? Because it’s hard otherwise to explain this off-topic comment from the Houston bicyclist (it’s somewhat off topic because high-ranking Democrats who lost their seats after redistricting weren’t a part of the Republican Congressional leadership).
Strangely, the story works in three paragraphs quoting Bicyclist Stein and another quoting lefty analyst/consultant, George Strong, but neglects to mention two important facts that would seem to contradict the thesis that Texas pork might be threatened by Rep. DeLay’s departure from leadership: 1) Rep. John Culberson is a member of the Appropriations committee and 2) Rep. DeLay has announced that he will be reclaiming his seat on the Appropriations committee.
But hey, why mention little facts that weaken the story you want to tell? Especially if Bicyclist Stein can be quoted instead!
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