Posted on 3/7/2005, 6:22:41 PM by SwinneySwitch
Local representative lobs criticism at senator over Packery Channel, Valley
Three angry letters Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison never received speak volumes about the discord between her and U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz.
The letters attack her for favoring a Corpus Christi project at the expense of one in Brownsville. One letter plays the ethnicity card:
"I know it's not because there's mostly Hispanics in the Valley is it? No, surely that's not it. I am, however, curious."
The "I" was supposed to be a Valley constituent. Ortiz's chief of staff, Florencio "Lencho" Rendon, distributed the letters, intending to find others to sign and mail them in a letter-writing campaign. Rendon says he did not write the letters.
They shed light on the difficulties between Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, and Hutchison, Texas' senior Republican U.S. senator.
Neither say they want a bad relationship. Both lawmakers are frustrated by the other's actions, which each sees as going against the areas' constituents.
Says Hutchison: "I've always had a great working relationship with the members of Congress. This is an unusual situation."
Says Ortiz: "Courtesy is a two-way street. It doesn't run just one way."
Relations improved
Ortiz does say the relationship has improved recently.
"Sometimes the dynamic between lawmakers includes peaks and valleys," he said in a written statement. "Currently, my relationship with Sen. Hutchison is one of great respect. We have a good working relationship."
In recent examples: The Corpus Christi Packery Channel and Brownsville's Brazos Island Harbor dredging projects; Brownsville's upcoming West Rail Project, and the Intracoastal Waterway; Ortiz pushed one way, Hutchison pushed another. Both say they were helping residents who reached out to them, and that the other is out of touch.
(Excerpt) Read more at caller.com ...
Rep. Ortiz is a winner of Rush's Katie Couric Award for asking the stupidist questions.
Ortiz is an idiot.
Didn't Ortiz benefit financially from the dealings at the Port of Corpus Christi?
Ortiz has been around for too long. It's time for someone new in south Texas.
South Texas 'Rat Politics!
Please let me know if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
Being the Senior Texas Democrat has gone to his head!
He might even think he could be senator one day.
Quién sabe?
"Ortiz has been around for too long. It's time for someone new in south Texas."
"Solomon Ortiz's ACU rating in 2004 was only 28; Edwards had a 48!"
Oh, but the lying dog Chet Edwards was George Bush's best friend and supporter and TERRIBLY conservative during the last election. He totally fooled many voters who didn't bother to find out that he votes with Kennedy must of the time. He needs to LOSE next year.
I agree 100% with what you said. Chet needs to be taken out like yesterday's garbage.
Ortiz might be a hispanic DINO, but he could never make a good RINO. There are no conservative Texas democrat congresscritters, IMHO
I think some south Texas Democrats will have a lot to say about Solomon's son taking over. He will not change parties. He is chairman of the Nueces County Democrat Party.
I do agree that it needs to be a Hispanic Republican to run the next time it is open. It needs to be someone who was in the military as well.
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