Current and former Texas officials on Sunday stressed the severity of the Lone Star state’s energy crisis as they outlined reasons why the disaster amid winter storms that left millions of Texans without electricity was preventable.
TPM seems to have left out some very important details
Bash asked a question that is only applicable in a state where there is a deregulated electric market. Many Texans are [receiving bills for electricity over $1000](https://egbertowillies.com/2021/02/20/republican-deregulation-in-texas-woman-gets-6000-bill-during-the-winter-freeze/) for spotty electricity. Why? Because a Texas’ deregulated market allows it.
When asked if Texans would be responsible for those electricity bills, Rep. McCaul said that federal emergency monies would be used to make those people who were ripped off whole. All Americans’ tax dollars will pay Texans’ bills to allow payment to a few businesses that took advantage of a deregulated market. In other words, it is a transfer of wealth and income from the many to the few that rips off some.
But it is what Dana Bash said at the end that is most prescient. After listening to Representative McCaul talk about all the handouts he wanted from the federal government to support Texas, a state who claims to be anathema to government, regulations, and taxes, she pointed out the hypocrisy.
“I have to say real quickly,” Dana Bash said. “Hearing you say that the federal government is going to help to bail out and to pay bills on a state which is in part in this mess because it wants to be separate from the federal government is “kind of” rich.”
Maybe Texas isn’t a failed state, but they certainly have failed politicians.
Crisis will end when Republicans are voted out.
“Texas holds the country’s only independent electrical service. Critics of the state’s energy grid say its independence from the rest of the country allowed the state’s infrastructure to bypass federal regulations…”
The GOP loves to lecture everybody else on “self-sufficiency”.
Until it drives off the cliff.
Every. Single. Time.
FEMA money should absolutely not be able to be used to pay off electric bills! The people should be able to write them off in bankruptcy court, or the State of Texas should force the companies to disgorge the profits. Why are the rest of us paying, instead of the Texas electric utilities that caused this problem? My God, we Americans are stupid sometimes.
It’s all those damn LED lights that caused the problem.
They stopped emitting…
‘‘You fucked up. You trusted us.’’
– Texas deregulation zealots to the rest of the state
Absolutely. The folks had no problems paying less than many of us do over the years, zero justification for us to bail them out when it suddenly gets more expensive.
They can go claw it back from the companies if they like, saddling us with that would be bullshit.
@southerndem When did Ms. Bash develop such a sharp little set of claws and teeth? Was she trying to wipe that smirk off of Rep. McCaul’s mug? Is she always such a meanie? I think she’s forgotten some of her lessons from stenog…oops…journalism school.
Texas GOP Rep: .: I think it’s great AOC is crossing party lines
So how soon before he gets censured?
I’m guessing way before the water situation is even close to being fixed.
Yep, California drove PGE into bankruptcy for the fires, same should happen to ERCOT and the variable rate providers.
edit: PG&E
Watching him now on Austin City Limits.
Never been a fan, but boy, he has talent.
Texas as a failed state is the goal of the GQP for the entire country: completely deregulated monopolies run amuck, worker safeguards don’t exist, the poor live like dirt, and low rates of voting due to voter suppression.
So what if consumers get ripped off and workers suffer? GQP donors in big business get richer and that’s all they care about.
There is no debate. Nothing that happened in Texas is unique to Texas or new to the world. Many countries experience weather like that in Taxes this past week but don’t suffer as Texans did. It’s not only that it can be done but it is being done all over the world.
Texas just didn’t do it. They pride themselves as individualists…stand outs from the USA. They’re not. They do have their own power grid. How did that work out? They have no state income tax and yak about that 24/7. Perhaps they need one or they should consider taking care of their people with what money they do have instead of handing it back to the 1%.
Nothing new happened in Texas. Nothing that hasn’t been solved all over the world. Texas just didn’t do it.
Always been a fan, and yes he does.
I imagine a deal will be made. No way FEMA pays outrageous rates. I think FEMA might pick up 25% or so of the jacked up cots and let the people pay their bills at the usual rate. ERCOT really has no game. Are they going to cut folks off for non-payment after this? No way.
The slogan for Texas should be “Never have so many done so little with so much.” That applies to most aspects of Texas culture, with the exception of some music genres.
I watched a youtube video some time ago where the guy who takes care of Trigger basically firmed it up for another tour. That guitar looks worse then Willie does but it’s still solid. 
EDIT: here you go.
