ORTIZ ASKS FOR TWO MORE YEARS TO FINISH JOB

By Juan Montoya

Admitting that he has not been able to finish the job he started more than 27 years ago, U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, wants the voters of the 27th District of the U.S. House of Representatives to let him go back to the feeding trough so he can fill himself to his heart's content.

This is the same man who played a key – if concealed – role in the Port of Brownsville $21 million-Bridge to Nowhere debacle by directing plums to Mexican contractors through his former aide Lencho Rendon. As word of the scandal grew, Ortiz distanced himself from the affair.

But, alas, spending records from the account of the late Port Director Raul Besteiro clearly showed that the congressman liked to eat, drink, and live large at the expense of local taxpayers while he stayed at the Rancho Viejo Golf Resort. His favorite lubricant for his high-priced main dishes? Crown Royal.

Now 72, Ortiz, has represented the area from Corpus Christi to Brownsville for more than 25 years. During that time, he has grown wealthy off a port security company that provided port tenants the service here and in Corpus Christi as well. It wasn't until the media, especially the Corpus Christi Caller, called him out on the possible conflict of interests in that business that he disassociated himself from it.

"I modestly ask for your support as I seek to continue to be your public servant and elected representative in Congress," Ortiz said, in a press release to local media. "I am humbled that for the past 27 years, South Texans have continued to believe in me to be their voice on Capitol Hill."
And so are we, Mr. Ortiz.

In fact, we have been so humbled that we have not questioned how a man who represents the interests of two ports in his district can possibly say he does not favor one over the other.

So far, no other Democrat has challenged the Perennial from Corpus for the Democratic primary. We hear, however, that a Libertarian candidate will run against him. But for now, Ortiz is making the same promises he made when he first ran for office in 1982.

He said he will continue to seek federal funding for South Texas including expanding benefits for veterans, securing funding for military readiness and construction and on-going military-related projects; studying and assessing transportation and infrastructure needs; addressing issues on social security, Medicare and Medicaid just to name a few. You know the mantra.

And, of course, he claims that he is for a veterans hospital in the Valley, but even with him claiming to be the "Dean of Hispanic Congressmen" in Washington, he has never been able to deliver.

Among the impressive credentials he sent the press include sitting on the House Armed Services Committee where he chairs the Readiness and Military Construction Subcommittee and being a member of the Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. He is one of three Texas representatives on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and sits as a member of the Aviation, Highways and Transit, and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittees.
"For close to three decades, I have worked to better the lives of South Texans," Ortiz said in his press release. "I want to continue to work for the people — continue to be the voice of Texans in Washington, D.C."

Sure you do, Congressman. Where was your pull when they built the wall? How about when they closed the military bases in your district? Or when the republicans gerrymandered your state to dilute Hispanic voting strength? If after close to 30 years you can't point to a single major piece of legislation written by you to benefit us in the Rio Grande Valley, how can you ask us to send you back for another two?

At 72, please give us a break, will you?