TX House District 59. Ernie Casbeer, who is running for the seat Miller holds currenctly, sent this press release.

CASBEER TO MILLER: "TRY SPENDING LESS TIME WITH AUSTIN LOBBYISTS AND MORE TIME LISTENING TO YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS"

Challenger Says Incumbent Lacks Local Support Sp is Importing Austin Lobbyists to 'Volunteer' For His Campaign

(OGLESBY)--Texas House challenger Ernie Casbeer today said his opponent should spend less time with registered lobbyists in Austin and more time listening to his own constituents, saying that if he did he would understand why voters have growing concerns about ethics charges filed against him last month and serious questions about his support for a private-school voucher scheme pushed by his party bosses in Austin.

“My opponent has exhausted his support in our communities and is now forced to import a group of registered lobbyists from Austin to block walk for him,” Casbeer said. “Maybe he should spend more time explaining to voters why serious ethical charges have been filed against him and why he wants to siphon millions of their tax dollars out of their local schools.”

Casbeer’s opponent, incumbent Sid Miller, has spent the past week calling Austin lobbyists and other political organizations in Austin to demand that they endorse him, give him awards, and donate to his campaign.

In addition, Miller’s party bosses at the State Capitol have tried to pressure a small group of registered lobbyists to “volunteer” to block-walk for Miller in the district over the next two weekends.

Last month, ethics charges were filed against Miller for failing to disclose that he co-owns a private company with a registered Austin lobbyist. He also has paid the lobbyist more than $575,000 from his campaign since 2000, according to state records.

Miller, whose family owns a charter school in Stephenville, voted on May 23, 2005 for taking tax dollars out of neighborhood schools to fund a private-school voucher program.

A veteran high-school teacher, Casbeer opposes private-school vouchers as ell as a controversial plan pushed by Miller’s allies to give Texas the highest sales tax in the nation by expanding it to doctors’ visit, medicines, child car, car repair, and a long list of other services.

Casbeer supports utility reforms to address the current energy crisis, which is hurting middle-class families, small businesses, public schools, and local governments.