Rep. Krusee Loses On His Bread And Butter Issue

There has been quite a bit of talk this past week about the implications of the Williamson County results from last Tuesday as a, sort of, referendum on toll roads and their biggest proponent in Williamson County, Rep. Mike Krusee. Here's a rundown: My comments, OffTheKuff, Sal Costello and Toll Road News. They all refer to the fact that:

However the vote is a political blow to tolling since it suggests a lack of public confidence in the way tolling is being handled in the state.

I also thought this Statesman "Under The Dome" sections reasoning for why the two propositions that failed didn't pass was rather humorous:

Did wording doom amendment?

On the surface, there seemed to be no connection between the two constitutional amendments that Texas voters rejected this week.

Proposition 5 dealt with interest rates. Proposition 9 was about the length of terms for members of regional mobility authorities.

But a close reading of the ballot reveals a common thread that may help explain why voters thumbed their noses at these -- and only these -- measures.

Proposition 5 was described to voters as "allowing the Legislature" to define rates of interest for commercial loans, while Proposition 9 was about "authorizing the Legislature" to change the length of the terms.

Giving new power to legislators? In a year when they met all summer long and got nothing done?

Not a risk, it seems, that most voters wanted to take.

That shows the current lack of confidence the people of Texas have with the current legislative (mis)leadership in this state. Rep. Krusee takes a hit because his own constituents don't trust him on toll roads. We haven't even begun to take him to task for completely divorcing himself from the issue of education. I guess since he's gotten in bed with the voucher crowd there's no longer any reason for him to worry about public education.