The Grit And The Salsa

By Kleinheider Posted on May 13, 2008 at 8:39 am

A Hispanic journalist mourns the loss of an ethics crusading legislator who once used the word “wetback”:

We must have talked five days a week about his efforts and how to get the word out to the peopole about the shenangians going on. Sometimes, you could hear the grandchildren in the background. His law office would serve as a daycare when needed. Buck even went to the governor, who told him that he didn’t have the time to get involved in cleaning up the mess. Then, federal authorities came sweeping in under Operation Tennessee Waltz.

Ultimately every two years, Buck would always draw a lot of primary opponents, funded by fellow Democrats who feared his continued effort for ethics on Capitol Hill. Finally, with eight primary opponents and two GOP ones for the general electction, Buck called it quits.

Be warned. Ethics have not been secured at Legislative Plaza. There still are plenty of loopholes in existing law and areas of the lobbyist-lawmaker relationship stil in gray.

Buck will be fine with his law practice and farm/ranch. But I’m not that confident for the rest of us. We’re losing a champion, a man of his word and principle who knew state government wasn’t working for our benefit.

We’re losing a lawmaker of true grit.

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