August 24, 2011
Michael Quinn Sullivan
Empower Texans
PO Box 200248
Austin, TX 78720
Dear Mr. Sullivan:
Thank you for your letter regarding Empower Texans 2011 legislative scorecard. Upon reading it, my first thought was of George Bernard Shaw, who responded to one of his critics thusly: “I am sitting in the smallest room of my house. Your critique is in front of me. Shortly it will be behind me.”
Then I realized this thought was perhaps too harsh and too confrontational for, in fact, I am proud to have earned an “F” from Empower Texans for my work in the 82nd legislature. I know I am doing things right in Austin, and would seriously question both my judgment and values were I to receive any higher grade.
I am proud to have opposed Voter ID, which does nothing to protect the sanctity of the ballot and is designed only to limit the participation of the disenfranchised; I am proud to have fought against those who held the Rainy Day Fund hostage and to use an additional $3 billion to alleviate devastating cuts to vital programs; I am proud to have voted for other bills that would have reduced the impact of those cuts, and to get rid of tax loopholes that provide billions in tax breaks to huge oil companies even as we cut funding for our children’s schools and health care; I am proud to have voted against hypocritical “look at me” votes calling on Congress to balance the federal budget while we failed to actually balance our own, and against the interests of the predatory payday loan industry. I will wear my “F” grade from Empower Texans as a badge of honor and look forward to further disappointing you in the future.
To paraphrase the greatest President of the 20th Century, Franklin Delano Roosevelt: I welcome your hatred. After all, I’d much rather be a champion of the powerless than a lickspittle of the powerful.
Sincerely,
Rodney Ellis
Restores my faith in politicians. Finally, one who puts the people first and stands on his convictions. And in Texas, no less, where acting on such values can be political suicide, not to mention angering well armed and close minded right wing constituency..
right wing politics and politicians have a place…on a rail outta town decorated in tar and feathers.
Bless you sir! We need more like you!
Can you be cloned? I can think of several other states that would welcome your way of thinking, mine included.
Thank You! Mr Ellis
Right on.
I knew Rodney when I lived in Houston and I was part of the professional photographic community… Ellis was one of my favorite people to “cover.” I left TX a while back and am very happy to see that he (Rodney) continues to excel as a Human Being!
His letter is a refreshing response to “evaluators” with a questionable political agenda.
Thank you, Rodney Ellis, for an intelligent reply to this intimidation practice of grading according to your political “curriculum.”
Wow. A pugnacious Democrat with elegant phrasing. Can he clone himself? Please?
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Finally. Thanks you Senator Ellis for taking your calling to “serve the people” to heart. It is such a relief to see a public figure happy to serve ALL the people not just those who can pay the most.
Best,
Robin Ayers
Finally. Thank you Senator Ellis for taking your job to serve ALL the people to heart. You help to restore a little bit of my faith in our process and the people who serve in it.
Wish we had Senators like you in Pennsylvania.
Oh, if we only had more if you in both our Tx congress & our national
Thank you for being a champion of the common people. We need more like you. Now if we could just wrest control of our national dialogue from these neocon cretins who have kept the general progress of our country on the ropes for so long. Perhaps then we could move forward instead of having to defend decent, democratic principles all the time.
Senator Ellis? Can I possibly interest you in moving to California? We need a champion like you here in the Golden State! But you’ve heard that one before. Keep up the good work and PLEASE see if you can’t encourage more of your colleagues to be more like you!