When Texas Legislators Failed Us, Our Neighbors Did Not

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While elected officials and members of The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) toss blame at each other, Texans want answers and solutions to ensure the state’s power grid never fails again. Thursday, February 25, the House State Affairs and Energy Resources committees will hold a joint emergency hearing on the recent power crisis. Members of these committees would do well to follow the example of their constituents. When the electrical power failed, the power of human kindness, cooperation, and ingenuity did not. 


Last week, Texans helped one another survive without heat during a brutal winter storm. Before the temperatures even dropped, concerned citizens got to work. Folks from our church brought blankets and jackets to give to our neighbors without homes. The Religious Coalition to Assist the Homeless raced to find hotel rooms for those who live on the streets. The city set up warming centers, and numerous organizations provided similar services.  


When snow and ice covered the roads, neighbors with four-wheel-drive vehicles organized grocery trips for those who needed essential items like diapers, baby formula, milk, medicine and toilet paper. When groceries could not be bought, we went to our pantries to donate food and paper products. 


We took complete strangers into our homes. Hotels were full and none would take big dogs. Families were freezing but couldn't leave their pets. What could we do? Open our homes to new friends with four legs and huge paws.  


Across the state, Texans helped one another shut off water valves, thaw out frozen water tanks, and mop up water from burst pipes.  We cooked and boiled water for those who didn’t have the means to do so. With breakneck speed, we put on a full display of Texas grit, heart, and determination. Our political affiliations took a back seat to the greater good of caring for our neighbors. 


Now we need our elected officials to do the same. They need to stop throwing blame at others so they can start taking responsibility and action. Leaders obsessed with saving their own skin cannot save the lives of others. Texans died while politicians made excuses. That's, well...inexcusable. It’s time for these public servants to lay partisanship aside and work for the greater good. Now is the time for them to prevent another unnecessary power grid failure. Now is the time for them to offer immediate assistance to those devastated by the storm. Now is the time for the leaders of this great state to show the world what Texas grit, heart, and determination can do.


To make your voice heard, you can find a list of the members of these committees at https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/index-test.php?committee=C450 

and 

https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/?committee=C250.  


You can also join the work of the Texas Freedom Network (TFN). TFN is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of more than 130,000 religious and community leaders who support religious freedom, individual liberties and public education. Based in Austin, TFN acts as the state’s watchdog for monitoring far-right issues, organizations, money and leaders. The organization has been instrumental in defeating initiatives backed by the religious right in Texas, including private school vouchers and textbook censorship at the State Board of Education.  https://tfn.org/resources/legislative-watch/

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