Published: 09-11-08
AUSTIN - State Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) will be presented tonight with the “Defending the American Dream” award in Tyler at a Smith County Republican Party event at The Potpourri House. Rep. Berman earned an “A” on the AFP report card for his conservative record in the Legislature.
“Rep. Berman is a true patriot on this Patriot Day. He was among the top legislators last session who voted consistently to protect taxpayers” said Peggy Venable AFP-Texas director. “Rep. Berman reliably voted for free enterprise and taxpayer protections and we are pleased to honor him with the top honor the AFP Defending the American Dream award.”
Peggy Venable will present the award to Rep. Berman at 6:30 p.m. at The Potpourri House on 3220 Troup Highway in Tyler.
Other award winners include Representatives Betty Brown (R-Athens) Phil King (R-Weatherford) Fred Brown (R-Bryan) Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) Dan Flynn (R-Canton) Dan Gattis (R-Georgetown) Rick Hardcastle (R-Vernon) Bryan Hughes (R-Marshall) Carl Isett (R-Lubbock) Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) Debbie Riddle (R-Houston) Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) Robert Talton (R-Pasadena) and Corbin Van Arsdale (R-Houston).
“It appears that some legislators get to Austin and forget about the voters who sent them there” said Venable. “The legislators who scored high on our report card worked hard to represent their constituents and protect taxpayer interests. Citizens deserve to know how legislators voted on taxpayer protection issues. We clearly define our mission to protect taxpayers and we let legislators know where we stand on those issues. Taxpayers should know who stands with us in that mission.”
“Fourteen legislators got F’s” said Venable. “Those legislators failed to protect taxpayers.”
In determining the grades 21 House votes and 17 Senate votes taken during the 80th Texas Legislative session were scored. The votes were selected based on AFP’s mission to support the principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal and regulatory restraint. The report card and votes are available on the AFP-Texas website at www.afptx.org.
