Published Wednesday, June 24, 2009 6:05 AM
Brown lands on the couch
By JANET PHELPS
janet.phelps@theeagle.com
State Rep. Fred Brown was among 10 legislators who made the 'Furniture' category in the July issue of Texas Monthly magazine's semi-annual Best and Worst Legislators feature.
The College Station Republican on Tuesday brushed off the magazine as a liberally-slanted publication after editors put him in the category of being as useless as furniture.
"You've got to be kidding me," Brown said upon hearing of his designation. "I've had a great legislative session. I got all the legislation passed that was important to our district, and because I'm not liberal enough to get noticed by Texas Monthly is no concern of mine because as long as I keep my constituents happy in Bryan-College Station and do what they expect me to, I'm doing well."
The term "furniture," as explained in the magazine, refers to lawmakers who are inactive --"indistinguishable from their desks, chairs and inkwells" -- and the least consequential.
The magazine has compiled listings since 1973 after each legislative session. Other local representatives have been named on the list, although this is Brown's first turn.
In 2007, Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, and Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, both were cited as among the "best."
The lists are compiled by Paul Burka, Texas Monthly's senior executive editor, and Patricia Kilday Hart. They cover the House and Senate, respectively.
Burka said Brown, who has served in the House of Representatives since 1999, has been active in the past on issues that are important to him, but "there wasn't anything like that this time."
Burka said he and Hart typically make their own lists of people who are contenders for the furniture list, then "I'll just go around and check a little bit," he said.
One peremptory challenge is enough to keep someone off the list, he said.
Brown said he had "no idea" why he was named.
"The Texas Monthly is pretty liberal, so for them to say nice things about a conservative is pretty unusual," Brown said, adding that he maintained that belief despite the fact half of the legislators on the furniture list are democrats.
Brown pointed to several bills he authored or sponsored during the past session -- one that will allow night classes at colleges and another that will extend victim confidentiality in child sexual abuse cases to civil courts. A third bill that would have required university health care centers to accept private insurance was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry.
Although Brown said there were "about nine" pieces of legislation he helped to craft or pass that would positively affect his constituents, he could name only three and referred other questions to a staff member.
Brown pointed to high marks he received from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, which maintains the Empower Texans Web site. The group recently gave him a high score on its Fiscal Responsibility Index with a score of 90 out of 100.
Burka, who has posted several responses from lawmakers and readers on his Texas Monthly blog, responded online to a critic who called the listings as "little more than a front for left-wing ideological agendas."
"We have liberal readers, and we have conservative readers. Each of these groups expect[s] us to be fair. The Best and Worst Legislators story could not have flourished for 36 years if our audience perceived us to be biased in one direction or the other," he wrote.
On Tuesday, Burka said both 'furniture' and 'worst legislators' are bad spots to land on, but most lawmakers prefer to be named 'worst' over the title Brown was given.
"To me it's hard to distinguish between them. I think in terms of being able to argue against it -- it's easier to argue against the worst list," he said, adding, "I don't know that I'd want to be on either one."
Comments
15 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
Katy On:
Monday, July 06, 2009 10:13 PM
Comment Title: BTDT
Apparently your past is as white as the driven snow or perhaps the people that know your follies have enough mercy to not post them on the internet. However none the less, it is not your place or anyone elses to demand any man get on his knees and beg forgiveness. I have known Fred for a very long time and one thing I do know is that he is a very good man and a much better person than to blast someones name online, especially rumors. Have a nice day.
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Posted by:
BTDT On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 5:42 PM
Comment Title: To Katy
Who says that my comments are not based on facts? What is said is not done to hurt Good Ole Fred's family, it is done so that maybe the next time some unlucky "front man" gets a business proposal from Fred...they will run and hide. Or so that the local voters will realize that he is not what he makes out to be. Unfortunately Fred Brown is not a stand up guy and unless he has really gotten down on his knees and asked for forgiveness, repented for his sins and changed his ways...then the only person to blame for the comments on this article are well...FRED BROWN.
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Posted by:
Katy On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 12:07 AM
Comment Title: So sad
It is so unfortunate that the character of so many is to belittle someone based on lies and rumors. If you would like to discuss your opinions of what goes on in State, then do so. However, why attack someones character when you, so clearly, know no facts. You are only hurting his family and friends. I would hope next time you would think about it before you throw the first stone.
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Posted by:
On:
Friday, June 26, 2009 12:52 PM
Comment Title:
Fred Brown takes advantage of voter apathy. If only this story had come out around primary time, we might have a chance to elect someone better.
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Posted by:
On:
Friday, June 26, 2009 9:46 AM
Comment Title: It came back
Wonder why this comment board returned, thank you Eagle, it is interesting to see what people think of Freddie.
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Posted by:
Jett McFalls On:
Thursday, June 25, 2009 1:22 PM
Comment Title:
While mentioning my place of employment in a public forum indicates your immaturity and ignorance my favorable opinion of Rep Brown has nothing to do with TTI. But I guess there is safety in anonymity. Your cowardice does not change my opinion about Rep. Brown as he has represented 'the major portion of Brazos County' well for a long time. Again, since you did not post your name I don't know for sure but I would like to know how your contributions to this area compare to Rep. Brown. I assume you at least get out and vote???
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Posted by:
RJinBCS On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:11 PM
Comment Title: No Mystery
There's no mystery why FB keeps getting elected despite his pitiful record and poor business practices. He showed it several times in the above article -- anytime anyone asks him a tough question, he just starts chanting "lib-rul, lib-rul, lib-rul" and you folks block out all reason and vote him in again.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 8:41 PM
Comment Title:
Jett McFalls and TTI may be very happy with the lack of representation our district has received from Rep. Brown for 5 legislative sessions. Mr. McFalls states that Rep. Brown has proven fiscal responsibility throughout his terms. However, he has not even been responsible enough to know what business he does or does not share ownership in. By the way Mr. McFalls might be surprised to know that Fred Brown is not a representative of Brazos Valley. His district covers only the major portion of Brazos County.
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Posted by:
Jett McFalls On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:17 PM
Comment Title:
Rep. Brown has done a great job representing this area for 5 legislative sessions. He is currently assigned to 3 committees and has authored (or co-authored) 37 bills in the House. He has proven fiscal responsibility throughout his terms. The Brazos Valley is lucky to have him for a representative.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:54 PM
Comment Title: __________REPRESENATIVE GOVERNMENT________
Fred Brown is reflective of the voters in Brazos County. The next time we think of how useless he is, we will do well to look in the mirror. That person looking back at you is partially responsible for putting him in office time and again. Even if you don't ever vote for him, do you do all you could to see that good candidates are put forward and supported. I don't care for Fred Brown or his politics but don't put all the blame on him.
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Posted by:
BTDT On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:37 PM
Comment Title: Wake up B/CS
Why in the world are you still electing this jerk. How many women can he abuse? How many businessmen can he ruin? How much money can he steal? Hell, he even took advantage of his own son-in-law...
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:16 AM
Comment Title: Just the Facts
I agree. Until confronted by the media and or his business partners, Fred Brown has never been exactly straight forward about his "ownership" of any of the dealerships he has lent his name to, including the original Fred Brown Mazda/BMW. Why someone doesn't use this when he runs for re-election I don't know. And now he's selling real estate
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:50 AM
Comment Title: Fred fools most the people
He has managed to do so his whole adult life in CS. Ask those who worked at "his" dealership. Ask the young women that filed abuse against him. Everyone sees congressman gelhair but most never look beyond the cover and it has served him well. He fits in well with gov. goodhair.
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Posted by:
A Winfrey On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:27 AM
Comment Title: I Agree
I wholeheartedly agree with Burka's assessment and the first posted comment. I cannot understand how Brown keeps getting re-elected term after term. I know of nothing that he has done to benefit this district, but then, I can't see that the entire legislature did much of anything this term! Why else would we need a special session? I wish we could clean the whole slate and start over!
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 8:50 AM
Comment Title: conservative slip cover
I would not call Fred furniture, but even worse, a "slip cover"...He does nothing, and all the boneheaded things he does seem not to stain him. I am as conservative as it comes, and I think he is worse than useless!
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