Looking for Eleven Good Men and Women

Remember when Rep. Mike Jackson, Chair of Senate Nominations, said he wouldn't bring the nomination of embattled right wing SBOE Chair McLeroy to the Senate floor if the votes weren't there to confirm? Well something must have changed because Jackson called a Nominations meeting on Wednesday and they voted 4-2 to send McLeroy's nomination to the floor. Democratic Senator Kirk Watson (one of the two votes against sending it to the Senate) surmised that Jackson must know that a Democratic Senator or two were going to vote to confirm, because if all 12 Democrats stick together, McLeroy's confirmation is dead in the water. That's because confirmation of this Perry appointee requires 2/3 of the Senate to vote in favor. It just takes 11 votes to block. Democrats are pro-public education and the expectation is that they ALWAYS stand up for public schools. I'd be real curious who Jackson thinks is not going to be a real Democrat and is willing to continue McLeroy's reign of terror on school children. I think we need to find out. Call your Senator today, or call all twelve Democratic Senators to find out how they intend to vote. The complete list of Senators identified by party is here, along with contact information. What happens if McLeroy is not confirmed? Governor Perry gets to appoint someone else from the SBOE as Chair. He could certainly appoint someone who is equally as bad - Dunbar, Cargill, Mercer, Leo or Bradley. Or he could appoint a moderate Republican like Bob Craig, who has the best interests of Texas school children top of mind instead of a far religious right agenda. Let that be Perry's political problem. Our task at hand is send a strong message to our Democrats in the Texas Senate that a vote to confirm McLeroy is a vote against Texas school children.