We’ve become accustomed to politicians running from their records, but sometimes they do so in new and unexpected ways. Liberal State Reps. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth and John Raney of College Station are employing the “don’t confuse a good story with facts” tactic.

Speaking at an event earlier in the week, Geren said that anything said about his record was a lie… In other words, his record isn’t his record when it isn’t convenient.

Not that Charlie would know. I have a voicemail from him on June 24, 2015, in which he called to say that the Fiscal Responsibility Index had mis-recorded one of his votes. In fact, Geren had indeed voted correctly on the floor, but then went back to change his vote in the House Journal to be the wrong position. Our stated policy since day one has been to honor the statements legislators place in the House Journal indicating they intended to vote another way.

Geren had forgotten he had changed his vote. He was for it before he was against then he was for it. Or something. (Voting records get confusing for incumbents who cannot remember which lobbyist was buying dinner on which night.)

Raney, on the other hand, is using misdirection. As was reported by Tony McDonald recently, John Raney voted against an amendment that would have put new planes on the Texas-Mexico border for immigration and law enforcement purposes. The amendment would have shifted funds from a liberal “diversity training” program.

Raney put diversity training ahead of border security.

Rather than own up to the vote he took, Raney is merely ignoring its existence by claiming it was all a lie, that he was really – don’t check the record! – for strong border security.

Pretty typical stuff.

The funny spin to the “run from their record” routine comes from State Rep. Tony Dale (R-Cedar Park), who is unopposed in the GOP primary election. Dale was the author of the aforementioned border security amendment. But he, for Raney’s sake, hopes you don’t pay any attention to it.

In service to the greater good of the crony cartel in Austin, Dale is helping Raney by ignoring his own amendment. In an effort to help the repugnant Raney, Dale is distancing himself from his own work. Dale is running from his own record to align himself with someone who voted against his good-government initiative.

All this presumes Dale’s amendment wasn’t just a political stunt on the floor of the Texas House. Which is the real Tony Dale, the one who offered the amendment or the one hoping his colleagues’ voters will ignore it?

Either way, it will require more running from a record.

Michael Quinn Sullivan

Michael Quinn Sullivan is the publisher of Texas Scorecard. He is a native Texan, a graduate of Texas A&M, and an Eagle Scout. Previously, he has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine contributor, Capitol Hill staffer, and think tank vice president. Michael and his wife have three adult children, a son-in-law, and a dog. Michael is the author of three books, including "Reflections on Life and Liberty."

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