Texas Senate rejects confirmation of conservative education board chief Don McLeroy

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – The Senate rejected Republican Don McLeroy's nomination as chairman of the State Board of Education on Thursday after Democrats decried his lack of leadership and "endless culture wars" over evolution and other volatile topics.

Along strict party lines, the Senate voted 19-11 for McLeroy, but a two-thirds majority was required. One Democrat abstained from the vote.

Several Democrats cited the recurring divisiveness on the board with McLeroy at the helm, along with his resistance to the views of educators and education experts on curriculum and other matters.

GOP senators rejected the criticism and accused the Democrats of holding an "inquisition" against the College Station Republican for holding views shared by many Texans – including a Bible-based explanation for the origin of humans.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-mcleroy_29tex.ART.State.Edition1.50a952e.html

[Robbien]

1. Good to hear

With all the problems the educational system has in Texas they shouldn't be wasting time and money on religious issues.

[Richardo]

2. WTG Texas Dems

:patriot: :thumbsup:

[Ranting_Wacko]

4. Yes, way to go us.

God knows we're not getting much support from Democrats outside of Texas.

[pattmarty]

3. TEXAS, the new Alabama!!!!!! Go on, I DARE you to secede.

[peaches2003]

5. The knuckledraggers still had the majority though

He was rejected only because there had to be a 2/3 majority. He only got 63%. The majority in TX still wants to teach creationism and lets the nutjobs run their education system. Apologies to all you progressive Texans here, but I wish TX would secede and be gone out of the US.

[MrBig]

6. I love this story...

It really says a lot about Texas Democrats. People give Texas a bad rap, but the Democrats here, even when in the minority, really are savvy and smart. They are outnumbered but came together to make sure this guy didn't get the position he REALLY doesn't deserve. The Board of Education in this State has embarrassed me for so long, I think we might finally start seeing some change.

I'll tell you, between the Killer D's of 2003 and the Senate Dems here standing up and preventing this appointment, Texas Democrats have some of the biggest set of cojones I've seen.