Finally, someone is looking out for America's top business leaders. I'm not sure how they ever coped before getting their own personal government meetings to discuss how their state can alter itself to
better serve their needs.
Texas' new lieutenant governor set up regular conference calls for select business leaders and donors to advise him on issues before the Legislature.
Fear not. Newly ensconced Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, a RepublicanOfCourse, is here to explain that the purpose of the calls is exactly what you think it is.
"Why wouldn't I want to learn from and communicate with the job creators? Why would we want to pass legislation that might impact our economy in a negative way?" said Patrick, who schedules bills for action, explaining the calls.
Heck, I don't know. Maybe Texas workers are getting lit on fire at their factories and a simple program of safety inspections could easily solve the problem—but it would make business leaders sad? I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that nobody in those meetings works a glove-wearing job.
Those invited to the conference calls include Tilman Fertitta, a Houston restaurant magnate whose chains include Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., energy pipeline builder Kelcy Warren and railroad executive Bob Albritton.
And over two thirds of those invited just happen to be past donors to the Dan Patrick campaign, in case you were wondering just how Patrick managed to build himself such a fine list of the wealthiest Texas businessmen. It turns out you can just crib their names off the checks!
I think the purpose of this is to remind us all that while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott may be suffering from an incurable case of the nutties, the number two Republican in government prefers to focus more on being a reliable corporate toady. Think of it as the conservative division of labor: you placate the frothing crackpots, and I'll placate the people who finance us.