Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                         Bridget Brown    Matthew Dulin 
Geronimo Rodriguez      Keenan Singleton     Lisa Street

Power play?

Like any other state, Texas has problems. But is it worth picking up a 127-year-old law that didn't work in the first place?

Gov. Rick Perry thinks so and the proposal is one of the items up for review in the Legislature's coming special session, the Austin American-Statesman reported Sunday.

It would give the Texas governor back a wealth of power while some believe it would take away from the Legislature. Enter the infamous concept of the power grab.

This power was originally stripped from then-renegade Gov. E.J. Davis, who led the "most corrupt governorship in the history of the State of Texas," according to Texas Politics and Government.

But proponents say it's a different time, and Perry insists the move would only benefit the state. Ultimately, Perry wants to have more sway in budget drafts, and he wants the power to choose who he wants to head state agencies.

There are two sides to this issue and both of them have to do with power. One side says the governor will have too much of it while the other insists this law will put power back where it belongs.

So what is a state to do?

Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst say the answer is easy. They said they'd support the change if the "appropriate checks and balances" were built into the proposal, the Statesman reported.

That checks and balances idea sounds like a good deal. So why not give the governor what he wants as long as the Legislature has a leash on him? And while the move would centralize who would be in charge, it would also hone in on the person making the mistakes. If Perry had more control, wouldn't he, or someone he put in charge, be the one responsible for the brass' dull-headed moves?

So change seems reasonable. If it does pass, we can only hope Perry doesn't go too far back and start whipping out the six-shooters when he doesn't get his way.

As far as spokeswoman Kathy Walt is concerned, lawmakers shouldn't be too worried about another Gov. Davis getting a hold of the state.

"Times have changed substantially since then," Walt said.

It's too easy to sling out the "how the times have changed" line, so let Perry and Co. give the nod on the checks and balances deal, and giving it a shot shouldn't hurt too much.