I never thought I'd find myself backing Texas State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos (D-Austin), since he's a big, corrupt weasel, but he actually did something worthwhile and got slapped down by the Republicans in the State Senate for the flimsiest of reasons. It seems kind of sad for someone to spend their whole career selling out to special interests and then when he tries to do something worthwhile for the first time all he gets is a kick in the teeth.
Barrientos entered a bill in the Texas Senate to name a 49 mile section of the new State Highway 130 after local legend Willie Nelson. What could be more appropriate since Willie is from the area and has a band named the Highwaymen and spends an awful lot of time on the road? We already have a street named after Buddy Holly, and after him Willie is certainly the most notable musician from Texas - certainly by far the most famous from the Austin area.
I live very close to where SH130 is going to run, and I know I'd like to be able to drive on the Willie Nelson Highway, and I'm pretty sure my hippy neighbors would get a tickle out of it too. I'm not even much of a country fan, but I have to admit to having a couple of Highwaymen songs on my iPod, not to mention at least one Willie solo song. Whatever shortcomings he may have, he's certainly one of the great and most prolific popular songwriters of the 20th century, in the same league as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Who deserves a highway named after him more?
Sadly, Republicans in the Senate don't feel as kindly towards Willie as I do. His outspoken support for Democratic Party causes and his well known use of marijuana aren't the kind of things straitlaced Republicans like Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) and Steve Ogden (R-Bryan) look on kindly, so they started stirring up opposition to the bill, using the excuse that it was inappropriate because Nelson was still alive. Rather than bring it to a showdown - despite quite a bit of support - Barrientos (ever the weasel) backed down and withdrew the bill. I'm not entirely sure what really motivated the Republicans to oppose the bill. I'd hate to think it was the marijuana use, but if it's the fact that Willie is a Democrat that's even more petty. This is a highway that runs through a rural farming area in eastern Travis County. That's Willie Nelson country. Who could possibly be more appropriate to name it after? Perhaps they're hoping someone will name it after them when they retire.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
FREE WILLIE!!
2 - RJ
Is it true that WN smoked a joint on the WH roof when Carter was Prez? Or is that just an apocryphal anecdote?
3 - Dave Nalle
Seems hard to believe that Carter who was so socially conservative would have countenanced that sort of behavior, but if he didn't know - and Carter was painfully oblivious most of the time - then anything is possible.
Dave
4 - Tom
Happy Birthday Willie
And many more
5 - Dave Nalle
And what could have been more appropriate than to announce he was getting a highway named after him here on his 72nd birthday?
Dave
6 - Shark
In Dallas, there's a George Bush Turnpike where everyone pays a toll except those making $100,000 or more.
Seriously.
7 - Jon Sobel
Actually those Texas Republicans could use a toke or two. Might calm them down, make them more like the drugged-out Republicans we have in NYC. But a dollar a mile? That's got to be more expensive than the best weed.
Reminds me of the controversy here a few years ago over putting Joe DiMaggio's name on the West Side Highway. Some folks objected. Does anyone remember why? I sure don't. Legislators and community groups, just like bloggers, seem to have way too much time on their hands all across the country.
8 - Dave Nalle
Untrue, Shark. They charge me a toll and I make over $100K. Of course I usually just take the access road unless I'm going the whole length of the stupid thing.
Dave
9 - Dave Nalle
>>But a dollar a mile? That's got to be more expensive than the best weed.<<
When they finish building this thing my plan is to take a portable basketball net up there and play hoops with the kids. There sure won't be any chance of getting hit by a car.
The idea of this highway was to direct long-haul truckers away from IH35 which runs through downtown Austin. The problem is that those 18 wheelers are only 2% of the traffic on IH35, so the actual traffic jams are caused by commuters in cars, not trucks. Plus the new highway makes them go 40 minutes out of their way and will charge them over $30 in tolls for that delay. What do you think the chances are that truckers will choose the new route over the old one?
What if they built a highway and nobody came?
Dave
10 - RJ
In Dallas, there's a George Bush Turnpike where everyone pays a toll except those making $100,000 or more.
Seriously.
Huh?
11 - Frank James
To contact Senators Wentworth and Ogden asking them reconsider their positions on Willie Nelson Highway, here are their web site e-mail forms:
Ogden:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist5/dist5.htm
Wentworth:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist25/dist25.htm
12 - Dave Nalle
Thanks Frank, but as you can see above they're already in the article.
Dave