Consumer lobbyist gives up on Austin

[Rose Siding]

Union says energy best spent where business holds less sway
AUSTIN – Ordinarily at the start of a legislative session, Lisa McGiffert would be walking the halls of the Capitol telling lawmakers why it was important they restore funding for children's health insurance.
...
After a quarter-century of lobbying in Austin, Consumers Union's Southwest office is giving up day-to-day policy combat here and redeploying its resources to states where its message has more resonance.
...
"It's a tremendous loss for the state of Texas," said Tom "Smitty" Smith, director of Public Citizen's Austin office. "Consumers Union both at the Legislature and regulatory agencies has been the most trusted voice among all of the consumer organizations because of their enormous research capacity." ...

But one legislator said she had not noticed any dramatic reduction in Consumers Union's activities. And even if it did scale back, consumers have their elected leaders to fight for them, said Sen. Jane Nelson, the Lewisville Republican who has headed the Health and Human Services Committee.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/013105dnbusconsumersunion.4e7c9.html

[pop goes the weasel]

1. bother

"even if it did scale back, consumers have their elected leaders to fight for them, said Sen. Jane Nelson, the Lewisville Republican who has headed the Health and Human Services Committee."

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. Somehow, I just don't feel protected.

[Rose Siding]

2. Oh, you gotta laugh first

This...this...woman cut how many kids off of govt programs? And she has the NERVE to suggest that elected officials who did the cutting are fighting for consumers? It's broad farce.

[Gman]

3. Jane Nelson is a garden variety right wing wacko

It still amazes me how so many unstable lunatics have gotten elected.