Saturday, September 29, 2001

Let Gramm leave on his own terms

AUSTIN - Texans should be outraged at the way some Republicans have treated U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm.
   Gramm, a Republican, recently said he would retire at the end of his term in January, 2003. The 59-year-old former economics professor has represented Texas in the Senate since 1984 and also served in the House. Deciding to leave public office was not easy for Gramm - and the tears he shed during the announcement are proof of the difficulty he faced making this decision.
   "I want to say to the people of Texas that it has been the great privilege of my life to serve you as your congressman and senator, as a Democrat and a Republican,'' Gramm said. ''All that I am I owe to the good people of Texas.''
   Shortly after Gramm's announcement, some Republicans were calling on him to leave early so Republican Gov. Rick Perry could appoint someone to serve out the rest of his term. Republicans believe an appointed U.S. senator would have an edge going into the 2002 election because he or she could run as an incumbent.
   Now, in the wake of the terrorist attacks, some Republicans are urging Gramm to consider seeking re-election. They believe Gramm's experience is needed to help the nation's economy recover.
   But some Republicans still hope that Gramm will leave early. Before the attacks, Perry reportedly met with President George W. Bush to devise a way to pressure Gramm to resign before the end of his term. Democrats said Republicans are acting desperate and will do anything to keep the Senate seat. ''Rick Perry has no business trying to hand-pick a U.S. senator simply because he doesn't trust the voters' ability to make that decision,'' said Molly Beth Malcolm, chairwoman of the Texas Democratic Party. ''Perry would be showing a complete lack of respect for the democratic process and the voters of Texas if he pursues such a scheme.''
   Democrats would probably plot a similar scheme if they were in that position. Republicans are showing a real concern about the Democrats taking over the U.S. Senate seat.
   So far, Attorney General John Cornyn is the only Republican who has announced that he will run for Gramm's seat. Austin lawyer Ed Cunningham will run for the Democratic nomination and several candidates from both parties are considering entering the race.
   But Republicans are most concerned about Dan Morales, a Democrat and former attorney general who is considering running for the Senate and would attract a large number of Hispanic votes. To combat that, some Republicans want Gramm to retire early and for Perry to appoint Rep. Henry Bonilla, a Republican from San Antonio.
   Let Gramm call the tune
   Gramm deserves better than to be cast aside by self-serving Republicans who are bent on keeping a Republican in the seat at all costs. He has always been a straight shooter and fought for what he thought was best for Texas.
   He deserves to go out on his terms. Texas voters in 1996 elected him to a full six-year term and he should serve it if that's what he wants. Instead of pressuring Gramm to resign, Republicans should be lauding his accomplishments and thanking him for his years of public service.
   His legislative record includes such bills as the Gramm-Latta budgets, which reduced federal spending, helped boost national defense and mandated the Reagan tax cut. Two years later, he pushed through the Gramm-Rudman Act, which placed the first binding constraints on federal spending.
   Gramm also served two years as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and worked to modernize the banking, insurance and security laws. Texans - especially Republicans - are better off because of Gramm's service to the state.
   Whether you agree or disagree with Gramm's philosophy, he loves Texas and fought for what he thought was best for the Lone Star State. He should serve the rest of his term and go out respectfully instead of being used in a game of partisan politics.
   Ty Meighan is chief of the Scripps Howard Austin Bureau and can be reached at 512-334-6640 or meighant@scripps.com
  
  

---

Ty Meighan is chief of the Scripps Howard Austin Bureau. You can reach him by phone at (512) 334-6640 or by email at meighant@scripps.com.

| Discuss about birdwatching | | Home |

---

---

[ Printer-friendly version ]
[ Subscribe to newspaper ]

SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND

---

2000 Caller-Times Publishing Company, a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.