If you are a conservative and/or Republican in Texas, you have probably been served Facebook ads by a group called “Stop TLR”. Though they present themselves as conservative the group is actively teaming with progressive liberals.
The group’s front man Mark McCaig had liberal operative Alex Winslow on his radio show this weekend. The topic was the Texas Department of Insurance. Both men attacked the TDI.
Winslow is Executive Director of Texas Watch, a liberal watchdog group. Winslow’s Linkedin profile shows one-sided political employment, including Bill Clinton and state Representatives Richard Raymond, Barry Telford and Jim McReynolds – all Democrats.
In addition to heading Texas Watch Winslow is President of the Texas Democracy Foundation’s “Next Generation of Leaders,” a program used to identify and introduce progressive leaders. The Texas Democracy Foundation governs the Texas Observer, one of the most liberal publications in Texas.
Winslow and McCaig have a shared interest in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.
Trial lawyer Steve Mostyn, McCaig’s boss, made millions by suing the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, a quasi-governmental organization. Following the huge TWIA judgment Mostyn dumped millions into the 2010 election in order to beat Republicans. Mostyn lost big. With his “Stop TLR” initiative, it seems Mostyn has added meddling on the other side to his donor activities.
During the 2011 session Texas Watch worked against passage of the conservative TWIA bill. Of late, the Texas Department of Insurance has been targeted by some coastal lawmakers over TWIA.
Specifically, coastal officials would like to continue to have hefty coastal property insurance needs subsidized by all Texans. They also would like the state of Texas to be obligated to cover any insurance shortfalls that may crop up now that the old insurance fund has been decimated. Finally, they would like to expand the circumstances under which TWIA can be sued.
Stop TLR is a trial lawyer-funded attempt to weaken conservative regard for Texans for Lawsuit Reform. In addition to limiting frivolous lawsuits through political action, TLR has worked to keep TWIA out of the cross hairs of trial lawyers.
Stop TLR’s Facebook ads are getting liked because of the money being pumping into them and the red meat conservative rhetoric they are draped in, not because of the trustworthiness of the messenger.