Political Obit: Burt Solomons
Solomons is something of a tragic figure, because he had considerable ability but, in nine terms, he never figured out how to put it to use. He was one of the eleven insurgents who led the successful revolt against Tom Craddick in the winter of 2008-09, and one of the “cardinals” who constituted the Straus inner circle in the 81st Legislature. During the Straus speakership, he knew more about the rules than anyone else in the House, and he was at his best in informal rules meetings with his colleagues, when he was collaborative rather than combative. Solomons always seemed to be spoiling for a fight, whether it was with Phil King, in their marathon battles over the Public Utility Commission during the Craddick speakership, or with lobbyists involved in negotiating homeowners’ association issues. He was among the first members to break with Craddick after the 2008 election and filed papers to run for speaker, but it was a doomed exercise; for all his legislative skill, he didn’t have the trust of his colleagues, and at times this was evident, as when Sylvester Turner amended the rules resolution in 2009–the issue was the jurisdiction of committees that Solomons was interested in, including State Affairs–and Solomons’ motion to table failed. Even in absentia, Solomons remains a central figure, as his House redistricting map is now the subject of judicial scrutiny. His map provided only one Hispanic opportunity district, and that was a stretch, since the district was already represented by Lon Burnam. Solomons’ failing was that he was too combative, and he picked fights he didn’t need to be in, as when he moved to table the bipartisan Oliveira/Huberty amendment to the sanctuary cities bill last session that would have given school districts protection that the bill offered to hospital districts and other special districts. Nobody likes to lose, but Solomons brought most of his problems on himself. The lesson here is that talent alone isn’t enough. You have to play nice with others.
The Happiest Man in Austin says:
Methinks Robert Scott is the happiest person in Austin to hear of BS’s retirement. Burt did not like the Ed Commish.
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LegeBoy Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:39 pm
“Burt did not like the Ed Commish.”
Does anyone?
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Anonymous says:
It could also be that Denton County has been transformed from one of the most successful counties for R’s into a bunch of loony fire breathers and he is just tired of that. Maybe Alice will run. (God forbid it!!)
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MQS shadow says:
Does this mean that Mark Vane can begin work to repeal the tanning bed bill?
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Capitol Veteran says:
And where in the mix does this leave Bonnie Bruce?
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Silverfoxwannabe Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Bonnie is one of the best staffers around. I am positive where she lands next will be not only where she wants to go but whomever gets her will be lucky.
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Rudy says:
I agree about the tanning bed bill, it was one of Burt’s most shining examples of over-reach.
Tanning bed lobbyist Mark Vane and the others who fought bravely for all Texans to tan freely are today surely rejoicing.
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Steve Bresnen says:
Mark must be beaming with pride at the recognition y’all are conferring on him. I know I would be.
Bonnie’s one of the best aides around; she will do well, whatever her choice.
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JUICE says:
“lobbyists involved in negotiating homeowners’ association issues”
Few people would emerge unscathed from this thicket . . .
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anita says:
There were times this last session where Burt would simply refuse to answer questions from the back mic. It was a display of petulance mixed with arrogance, both toxic to good legislating. One occasion reminded me of trying to have a conversation with an obstinate teenager.
There’s something to say for folks who know when to leave the party, when both they and the host feel that all have had an enjoyable time. Burt stayed at the party too long.
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WUSRPH says:
You do not believe that Solomons actually drew those house district lines do you? Certainly there were drawn, quartered and ordered by the GOP leadership in the State and handed down to Solomons to push thru his committee.
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Anonymous Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 10:51 am
Most user comments on here are inane. WUSRPH, yours was not. It never gets old hearing people claim that Solomons drew the maps. Does he even know how to use Red Apple?
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anita Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 5:05 pm
Burt didn’t draw the maps — just like most members don’t draft their bills. But what he did was put his name on the maps. Burt, and only Burt, had the ability to say “NO– I’m not going to put my name on a map that fails to meet the basic test of Constitutionality. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution and that’s what I intend to do.”
No, Burt put his name on it.
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slypig5000 says:
I couldn’t agree more, Solomons on a personal level was a hell of a nice guy. But he repeatedly displayed a level of arrogance that was outlandish even for the lege. Not taking questions, an extremely short temper, it always made me think he was just a little insecure in front of groups. He used his anger to overpower people.
As for Denton County, well, he was definitely the best legislator they had. It will be a big blow to an already underrepresented population.
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Not Mark Vane says:
Mark Vane needs time in a tanning bed. He’s a great guy, but he is looking pasty. Are there no perks for being a tanning bed lobster?
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Jojo Dancer says:
Burt Solomons won’t be around next session so Mark Vane will be better able to fight for our right to tan without government regulation.
Burt’s tanning bed bill can finally be fixed and justice will be served for tanning bed owners everywhere.
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Cap Staff says:
Mr. Bresnan (chiropractors’ lobbyist),
Please leave the Bonnie Bruce pandering to Richard Evans (Medtronic lobbyist), who has pandering down to a science.
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Bonnie Bruce Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:36 am
Cap Staff, you got a problem with me then post about me or better yet, nut up and tell me to my face, but leave my friends out of this.
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Steve Bresnen Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 11:19 am
Cap Staff: If you’re going to give me additional press, please spell my name right. And, by that, I mean, correctly. I’m just sayin’…
BTW, ask Bonnie to show you the video of a certain chiropractic technique we continue to strongly diasgree over. If you like it, we’ll see if we can get you anesthetized and manipulated into a right thinking…, uh, I mean a person who thinks correctly.
I’m pretty sure SHE ain’t gonna bend on it, pun intended.
Try to have some fun.
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Texian Politico says:
“Hispanic opportunity district”? What type of Orwellian doublespeak is that? Is Larry Gonzales’ seat an “Hispanic opportunity district”? Does this mean its must be a seat that only a liberal Democratic Hispanic can win? This is about racial quotas for elected members and nothing more.
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anita Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 4:59 pm
“racial quotas” is an interesting bit of doublespeak as well.
I take it you have no problem with the century and a half plus in which we rigged the structure, both de facto and de jure, so that Hispanics held little to no political power in this state. I guess that was the ultimate racial quota — simply locking Hispanics out of the process.
With that in context, please explain your gripe . . . and why you object to Hispanics being able to elect a Hispanic to represent them.
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anonymous Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:59 pm
I support the creation of minority opportunity districts. That being said, I think the last “century and a half plus” of gerrymandered and rigged structure had more to do with keeping the folks with money in power and not about the color of someone’s skin. Just so happened that people of color generally were not the folks with money.
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anonymous Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 8:02 pm
By the way, Hispanic opportunity districts have nothing to do with electing hispanics. They are designed to allow hispanics the opportunity to determine who gets elected.
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Blue Dogs says:
EGO can do that to a political career.
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Calculatin Coke says:
Last I checked Warren Chisum has been the authority on House rules for the last decade.
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anita says:
In the last few days, a number of members have decided to end their legislative runs to go back to the practice of law.
But only one of them — Aaron Pena — repeatedly misspelled the word “judgment”, including in his comments on this blog.
The word “judgment” is fairly fundamental to the practice of law. I once had a federal judge as a boss who shared this tidbit of wisdom — you can be a damn brilliant lawyer, but our bread and butter is the ability to communicate, and if you can’t spell — or don’t care enough to hire someone who can — you just look like a dumb ass.
Best of luck to Mr. Pena.
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Capitol Veteran Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Anita, according to Webster’s Dictionary, the word can be spelled either as “judgment” or as “judgement”.
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anita Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 3:54 am
“Judgement” is the British spelling.
Let me know when Pena dons the powdered white wigs of a barrister, then he’d be correct.
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Wordsmith Reply:
December 4th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Not that I am any fan of that obnoxious Aaron Pena, but I believe that Webster’s Dictionary is fully applicable in the United States. And if Webster’s maintains that the word could be properly spelled either way then that should be good enough for you, Anita.
Robert Morrow says:
If Solomons was the joke behind the tanning bed bill, then I am glad to see him go.
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Mr. Smith says:
I always liked Burt. he had a healthy dose of common sense, and he came pretty close to being the speaker instead of Straus. Like many Republicans, he got whipsawed by the insanity that has engulfed the Republican Party as that organization has been replaced by the Tea Party. With his departure, this puts additional emphasis on the March Republican Primary. If other Straus friends are replaced, ala David Simpson, by Tea Party nuts, then he may be replaced. Then get the popcorn, because a resurgent Democratic Caucus, at about 60 votes, clashing with a mjority Tea Party nutty Republican caucus, could spell cats and dogs, living together, mass hysteria.
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Well.... says:
Bonnie Bruce is a legend in her own mind. Solomons will have a hard time lobbying. What is he thinking? He has alienated too many people he is now suppose to lobby to. Good luck with that.
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LegeBoy says:
“During the Straus speakership, he knew more about the rules than anyone else in the House…”
During the 82nd, maybe, but not true for the 81st. No one could hold a candle to Dunnam on rules. #facts
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#halftrue Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:03 pm
… actually Hugh Brady was half the brains behind that operation. Not sure I’d give Dunnam all the credit.
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Tim Hoy says:
I am a precinct chair from the 65th district,one that originally nominated Burt to the ballot after Ben Campbell was convicted of bank fraud and wanted to be replaced by his wife. He had courage that some might taked to be bullheaded,but courage in taking on Craddick.He fought for what he felt was right. I hope Matthew Marchant-mayor of Carrollton runs. He’s Kenny’s son and will be a class act like his dad. Paul and I may not agree on much,but I apprciate his kindness when Kenny was ill last year.
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Robin Klar Lent says:
one voice for HOA reform
and then there were none
http://info.tpj.org/Lobby_Watch/pdf/HOABobPerry.june2011.pdf
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