When Grandma Carole Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn began teasing the state legislature 2 years ago, she raised her voice from shrill rhyming fast talk to screeching cat clawing trash talk. At a time when the newby Republican leadership was facing a bucket load of state debt and a crashing economy, Granny Strylander began having a starlet’s fantasy with press conferences and never ending media coverage.
The real problem was not her self-aggrandizing in the spotlight, but her inability to deal with other state officials in a legitimate, trustworthy manner. Over and over, the Grandma changed the budget estimates and criticized the lawmakers for instituting the very budget savings she had prominently suggested.
Here we are 2 years later. With legislators working hard to save Texas from Robin Hood, the former Granny School Teacher seems to have a math problem. (Here are her comments) When her senior staff members were working with legislators 2 weeks ago, they appeared to be professional and competent. These advisors served under former Democrat comptrollers Bullock and Sharp with a reputation of steadfast reliability and integrity. House Ways and Means Chair, Rep. Jim Keffer (R-Eastland) states the comptroller’s staff was consulted at every turn. (See his comments) Capitol watchers acknowledge Keffer made significant changes in HB3 in committee when being advised the numbers did not add up. There is no reason to believe he would not have reacted again during the House debate.
After a week of conniving, uh, calculations, at the tough Grandma's (her own campaign slogan), legislators were not called, faxed, or consulted about a potential math blunder. Was it all about the bright lights and fame in the press conference? (All Hollywood starlets know the name of the game is just to have your name in the game. Good or bad, the headline is all that matters.) Rep. Keffer was stunned to learn about Grandma’s declaration of the Education Finance Bill (HB3) being several billion dollars short. She didn’t respectfully call, thus he read about it online while the reporters were at his door.
“We can only conclude that the Comptroller’s office is either inept, purposely misleading the media and the public, or just playing politics – or maybe all three,” said Keffer.
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http://www.tx4tx.org/archive/Strayhorn%20Resign%20-%20Janelle%20Shepard.htm:popcorn: