El Paso lawmaker is labeled "furniture"

Each year Texas Monthly releases its list of best and worst legislators.

No El Paso lawmakers made it on to either list but state Rep. Chente Quintanilla, D-El Paso, was one of five legislators identified by the magazine, in its July issue, as "furniture." According to the magazine, the term "was born to describe those lawmakers whose level of participation in the legislative process was indistinguishable from that of their desks and chairs."

Quintanilla said he had not seen the magazine. He said that he and the writer of the piece, Paul Burka, have never been able to "see eye-to-eye."

"Again? He just loves me," Quintanilla said when asked about being placed on the list. "It's unfortunate that for the last three sessions he believes that...he just wants to make sure that I get up and debate from the back mike and that's just not my style."

The magazine does not provide details about why it placed certain lawmakers in the "furniture" column. It does, however, give lengthier descriptions of its best and worst lawmakers.

Below is a brief rundown of those who made the list.

The Best
Dan Branch, R-Dallas.
Senator Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock.
Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth.
Will Hartnett, R-Dallas.
Jim Keffer, R-Eastland.
Senator Steve Ogden, R-Bryan.
Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio.
Senator John Whitmire, D-Houston.
Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.
John Zerwas, R-Richmond.

* * * * *

The Worst
Leo Berman, R-Tyler.
Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton.
Wayne Christian, R-Center.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, R-Houston.
Senator Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay.
Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.
Larry Phillips, R-Sherman.
Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton.
Senator Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio.
Bill Zedler, R-Arlington.

* * * * *
Special Awards
Bull of the Brazos: Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio
Rookie of the Year: Dan Huberty, R-Houston

 

 

Comments

[g-man]

The word "furniture" to describe "Chente" is right on. The only time he does anything is when the tv cameras are on. But hey, the people in his district keep re-electing him. They must all be very proud.

[Roman]

I noticed ten of the worst legislators are republicans!
Question: Where are the strict constitutionalists to call Rick Perry out for his religious nonesense?
What about separation of church and state?
Rick Perry is pandering to the American Family Association, a hate group headed by Bryan Fischer. These Tea party evangelical zealot group cretin bigots are the GOP's favorite hate merchants!
What's Perry plan for the economy? Unemployment? jobs? It seems he's only interested in obtaining these racists' votes! Still want Perry to run?
I don't think so!