Posted 1:58 am Thursday, June 16, 2011
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Berman Makes Texas Monthly's ‘Worst' Legislators List
By ADAM RUSSELL
Staff Writer
Texas Monthly magazine released its biannual Top 10 “Best and Worst Legislators” featuring area state Reps. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, and Wayne Christian, R-Center, in the “worst” category.
Staff Writer
Texas Monthly magazine released its biannual Top 10 “Best and Worst Legislators” featuring area state Reps. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, and Wayne Christian, R-Center, in the “worst” category.
Berman called his place on the list, compiled by longtime Texas Monthly political writer Paul Burka, a “badge of honor because Paul Burka is the most liberal writer for the most liberal magazine in the most liberal county in the state.”
The representative said legislators who push conservative agendas can expect a place on the list.
“It is a badge of honor when you are put on the list along with nine other conservative Republicans,” he said. “There's not one single Democrat on the worst list, but there are four on the best.”
The representative said legislators who push conservative agendas can expect a place on the list.
“It is a badge of honor when you are put on the list along with nine other conservative Republicans,” he said. “There's not one single Democrat on the worst list, but there are four on the best.”
Texas Monthly compiles the list following the end of each biannual regular legislative session. In a phone interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Burka said he did not want to buttress the “Best and Worst Legislators” story in an interview before its circulation Friday.
“I want to let the story stand on its own,” Burka said.
“I want to let the story stand on its own,” Burka said.
He said Berman poorly represented his arguments about President Barack Obama “birther” conspiracies on a national stage.
Burka called Berman a “decent man” who always has treated him mildly in conversation but that “the surest way to make the 10 worst list is by embarrassing the state.”
Christian made the list in back-to-back legislative sessions. An attempt to reach Christian for comment after office hours was unsuccessful.
Other notable “best” and “worst” include multiple bests for Republican Rep. Bill Ratliff, of Mount Pleasant, from the mid-'90s to 2003; Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, “best” in 2007; and Tyler GOP Rep. Ted Kamel who made the “worst” list in 1993.
Burka called Berman a “decent man” who always has treated him mildly in conversation but that “the surest way to make the 10 worst list is by embarrassing the state.”
Christian made the list in back-to-back legislative sessions. An attempt to reach Christian for comment after office hours was unsuccessful.
Other notable “best” and “worst” include multiple bests for Republican Rep. Bill Ratliff, of Mount Pleasant, from the mid-'90s to 2003; Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, “best” in 2007; and Tyler GOP Rep. Ted Kamel who made the “worst” list in 1993.
