GOP, Democratic rankings similar

JOEY G. DAUBEN

AUSTIN – Who’s on this years Americans For Prosperity legislative "Naughty and Nice" list?

AFP, a free-market organization dedicated to promoting lower taxes, less government spending and more economic freedom, is the legislative "teacher" in our state.

In this writer’s opinion, the report cards from our past legislative session bolster my argument that we have imposters representing us in Austin under the Republican banner.

State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, and Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor, each hold AFP-TX grades as the same as state Rep. Yvonne Davis and Rep. Helen Giddings, both Democrats who represent Duncanville and DeSoto, respectively.

Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, represents Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Glenn Heights and parts of gerrymandered Dallas County, and he, too, finished with a score on par with the Democrats. State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, failed when he received an "F" on the report card.

So far, only Averitt has a primary challenger in Darren Yancy, but filing deadline for these and other offices is Monday, Jan. 4 at 6 p.m.

For more information on candidates and filing, visit http://ECPElections.com.