Of Open Meetings and Gag Rules

The "law of unintended consequences" states that any well-intentioned action will produce some unintended, unwanted consequences. The Texas Open Meetings Act is not exempt from this law. The act stipulates that local governments must publicly post agendas for meetings at least 72 hours in advance. They are forbidden from deliberating issues that are not included in the agenda.

The purpose of the Open Meetings Act is to make sure the public is aware of what business the governmental body will conduct and where and when that business is conducted. By and large, the act has served its purpose. Meetings are open.

After the jump, what can be wrong with that?

What's In Your Netflix Queue?

Richardson's #1 Rental

The New York Times has published a fascinating time waster, "A Peek Into Netflix Queues", which allows you to "examine Netflix rental patterns, neighborhood by neighborhood, in a dozen cities," including Dallas and nearby suburbs.

After the jump, an analysis of mine and my neighbors' tastes in movies.

All the News Not Fit to Print

Rumorcheck.org

If you're in the least aware of the explosive growth of the so-called blogosphere, you're aware that there's never been more truth to the old adage that "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on."

After the jump, what one Richardson resident is doing about it.

Fred Hill Is My Hero

Fred Hill

Former state representative Fred Hill (R-Richardson) is my hero for one glorious act of rebellion in May, 2007. During the closing hours of the legislative session, Hill attempted to offer a motion to remove Tom Craddick (R-Midland) as Speaker. The Speaker refused to recognize Hill to allow him to make his motion. Another representative also attempted to make the motion to vacate the chair. He, too, was not recognized. A third representative attempted to have a vote of the House to overrule these parliamentary decisions. He, too, was not recognized. Speaker Craddick argued that, under House rules, legislators cannot make a motion to remove him from office unless he lets them do it. And if he doesn't, there is no appeal. That position prompted the House parliamentarian to quit but a replacement upheld Craddick's position. Hill lost his battle that chaotic night in 2007, but he won a warm spot in my heart for his stand against autocratic rule.

After the jump, what Fred Hill has been up to lately.

TX House District 32 Race Gets Crowded

Today was the last day to file for a place on the ballot in March primaries in Texas. The Dallas Morning News has already decided that there are "No serious challengers for Texas' U.S. House delegation." That may be true, but the several challengers to incumbent Pete Sessions (R) for his District 32 seat would probably object. After the jump, the candidates...