After spending 30 years in the Texas Capitol reporting on state politics and government, I had my first experience last night testifying before a House Transportation Committee.
I left the newspaper world two years ago. I testified on a highway funding bill. Some of my Houston-area friends on this board may recognize the name....Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring. She and her husband own car dealerships in the northern Houston suburbs.
She and her husband became legal guardians of a young African American child some years ago...who turned into a decent football player and ended up playing tailback at the University of Mighty Meechigan. David Underwood..he started until a concussion in his senior year when he got Wally Pipped by a younger kid....Mike Hart.
So the legislator and I jaw verbally when it comes to the Beloved Spartans and the Weasels. She routinely texts me during big MSU games.
At the end of my testimony last night, she informed her committee colleagues that I'm a University of Michigan guy.
I could not let that false accusation go without a response.
So I said. For the record, I must correct the honorable representative. I'm a Michigan State guy - through and through
"Go Green!"
I am sure that in the 170 year history of Texas, I became the first person to speak up in defense of Michigan State University and to go "Go Green" during a formal legislative hearing.
Probably not the right forum...but no one called the Capitol police to escort me out of there.
But what else could I have done? Right?
I left the newspaper world two years ago. I testified on a highway funding bill. Some of my Houston-area friends on this board may recognize the name....Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring. She and her husband own car dealerships in the northern Houston suburbs.
She and her husband became legal guardians of a young African American child some years ago...who turned into a decent football player and ended up playing tailback at the University of Mighty Meechigan. David Underwood..he started until a concussion in his senior year when he got Wally Pipped by a younger kid....Mike Hart.
So the legislator and I jaw verbally when it comes to the Beloved Spartans and the Weasels. She routinely texts me during big MSU games.
At the end of my testimony last night, she informed her committee colleagues that I'm a University of Michigan guy.
I could not let that false accusation go without a response.
So I said. For the record, I must correct the honorable representative. I'm a Michigan State guy - through and through
"Go Green!"
I am sure that in the 170 year history of Texas, I became the first person to speak up in defense of Michigan State University and to go "Go Green" during a formal legislative hearing.
Probably not the right forum...but no one called the Capitol police to escort me out of there.
But what else could I have done? Right?
