Texas
Related: About this forumLt. Gov. Dan Patrick Appoints Allen West to Texas Sunset Commission
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday announced the appointment of conservative firebrand Allen West, a former Florida congressman and prominent Fox News contributor, to the state's Sunset Advisory Commission.
West was elected to Congress in 2010 to represent Florida's 22nd district, and he narrowly lost a re-election bid in 2012. He served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years, including serving as a battalion commander during the Iraq War, before being stripped of his command after pleading guilty to assaulting an Iraqi detainee during interrogation in 2003, according to the Boston Globe. West retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel and has since become a conservative commentator. He has lived in Dallas for just over a year and is currently president and CEO of the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis, a think tank.
"There is no mission more important than working towards a more efficient and effective state government," West said in a statement. "As a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a former member of Congress, it is a blessing to follow in the footsteps of Davy Crockett who came to Texas to fight for liberty and freedom."
The Sunset Commission, whose members are appointed by the lieutenant governor and speaker of the House, is tasked with periodically reviewing the operation and efficiency of different state agencies. Patrick appointed West as one of the commission's two public members. The other 10 people on the commission are members of the Legislature. West's appointment is likely to put a spotlight on the typically low-profile commission, which is reviewing more than a dozen agencies ahead of the 2017 session, including the Department of Transportation and the Texas Medical Board.
Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2015/12/18/patrick-appoints-allen-west-former-florida-congres/
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)tanyev
(42,550 posts)One more thing to keep me up at night.
packman
(16,296 posts)"reviewing the operation and efficiency of different state agencies". Yah, a hyper-conservative is going to enjoy that.
w8liftinglady
(23,278 posts)...and is a die-hard Democrat,Army vet and surgeon. He rolls his eyes when someone asks him.
TexasTowelie
(112,105 posts)However, I can relate to the BIL problem since two out of three of my BILs are conservatives. One of them is also an Aggie while the more moderate one is an Aggie also. Have I ever told you that I have family issues?
DhhD
(4,695 posts)http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/11/07/1155921/allen-west-16-moments/
snip
Despite moving to a new, more-Republican district (Floridas 18th congressional district), West was edged by challenger Patrick Murphy (D) by 2,500 votes.
more at link
West is sinking to the bottom of the barrel-Texas GOP government. Patrick and West-two rotten apples.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)ananda
(28,858 posts)sez Juanita Jean.
I'm quaking in my boots... being old and all.
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The Sunset Commission reviews state agencies for efficiency. You can bet that Allen West will find every social agency helping children or old people should be destroyed. Patrick had to import meanness. Texas didnt have anybody that mean and, hell, we have people meaner than ten acres of snakes.
Its going to be a Mean-O-Thon in Austin.