It never even reaches the two minute warning.
The University Line, whether John Culberson likes it or not
The committee chairman described it as a “food fight,” an after-midnight bout as Republican Congressman Blake Farenthold tried to jimmy legislation to block federal money for Metro to build or extend the University and Uptown light rail lines.
In the end, his effort failed. But the wrangling in the wee hours last week spotlighted the countless little-noticed struggles that take place across Capitol Hill as lawmakers try to steer taxpayers’ dollars toward projects they favor – and away from projects they oppose.
In this case, the stakes were potentially the future of Houston’s light rail system and the unceremonious initiation of Farenthold, a freshman lawmaker with barely 13 months on Capitol Hill.
[…]
Metro chairman Gilbert Garcia said he had been “surprised that a congressman representing the citizens of Corpus Christi would get involved in our local matter.”
Needless to say, Farenthold was lackeying for John Culberson, parroting the usual BS about the 2003 referendum as if he were sitting on Culberson’s lap. Thankfully, Rep. Corrine Brown of Florida intervened on behalf of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, and this particular bit of monkey business was defeated. Culberson and his ilk will never give up on this issue. Those of us who actually respect the outcome of that election can’t take our eye off the ball.
UPDATE: This would be entertaining at least, if there were any substance to it.
The Greater Houston Partnership has taken the unusual step of publicly taking U.S. Rep. John Culberson to task for his unsuccessful attempt late last week to block federal funding for Houston light rail, arguing that it makes the area vulnerable to other attempts of what it terms “reverse earmarking.”
It was so unusual that Partnership CEO Jeff Moseley argued that Culberson’s primary offense was not in opposing proposed light rail lines in his district along Richmond and Post Oak, but that the veteran lawmaker and light rail opponent did not work more quietly against the funding.
“We’re just saying whatever the questions might be on how they (funds) are being used, they’re best to be resolved quietly and not done in the front yard,” Moseley said during a visit to the Houston Chronicle editorial board Monday.
Nice, but as with the Texas Association of Business and immigration, it’s all just talk until someone funds an opponent.