Watson Wire

If It Feels Good, Do It

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 |

You know, I don’t want to brag. It's not my nature.  Really.  I'm not bragging.

See, the problem with bragging is that no matter how smart you really might be – or pretty, or fast, or rich or whatever – there's always someone smarter, prettier, faster or richer.

But since I'm running for re-election and all, I sort-of have to brag a little.  It's a rule. So I've been out there telling people that while lots of folks can pass a bill, it takes a special legislator to pass bills that do good AND make people feel good.

Yeah, that's right.  So-called "feel-good legislation."  I've been proudly taking credit for my share.  Because, after all, who's for feel-bad legislation?

Some examples, if you please.

There’s the “No Regrets” law I authored, which is getting the state started on reducing greenhouse gases with strategies that save money and help the economy.  (It feels good to fight climate change in economically smart ways.)

There’s my successful amendment that will bring a little more transparency to the state’s finances by making it clear just how much money budget writers are diverting to balance the budget.  (It feels great to be open and honest about how Texas spends your money.)

There’s even my bill that makes it easier to build things like sound stages that support the film industry in Central Texas and the thousands of folks who rely on it – and to do so without forcing the state to pony up money it wouldn’t have received otherwise.  (It feels really great to support this jewel in our economy and the creative folks who help make Austin special.)

Of course, there's a lot more.  But, see, piling it on would look like bragging.

Here's where I get put to shame.

So, yeah, I’m pretty proud of the feel-good legislation I’ve carried over the years.  But, like I say, there's always something better.

At the immigration panel I told you about last week, one of the speakers mentioned that Russia has been struggling for years with a declining population (the point being that in some places, the immigration “problem” is that there aren’t enough people to create and work in the jobs that are needed).

The Russian government has tried a number of things to deal with this very real problem.  Among other things, one Russian governor apparently created a “Day of Conception” – which is, basically ... yeah, that.  It's just what you think it is.

I said it that night at the panel, and I’ll say it again: Talk about your feel-good legislation!  It's sort of the ultimate.

Frankly, I know when I've been bested.  I'll never again brag in the same way about my bills.

(And I know what you’re thinking, so let me just say ... no, I will not be carrying anything like that in the next session.  But seriously, wouldn’t it be great if we could solve immigration – or pretty much anything else – with something like that?)