Glenn Smith, on his blog Dog Canyon, reports that Rick Perry and his lackeys tried to defund the Texas Forensic Science Commission during the last session of the Texas Legislature.

Capitol sources confirmed today that Perry’s office worked hard to kill funding for the Texas Forensic Science Commission during the last legislative session. “They knew what was coming,” said one source. “They worked the halls hard to defund the agency.” That news could be devasting to Perry’s public argument that his dismissal of his three appointees was “business as usual.”

Smith also reports on his interview with Dr Craig Beyler, the scientist hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission to write the report on the Willingham fire.

it may have been that his campaign considered any public airing of the issues to be potentially dangerous.

Perry faces a tough primary battle against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. But Hutchison has said little about the matter, except to say she’s a strong supporter of the death penalty and that she doesn’t know why the hearing was not allowed to proceed.

It was clear from talking to Beyler today that he wants to steer clear of the politics. He’s a scientist, and we could tell from the tone of his voice that he was somewhat embarrassed by the politicization of a matter that should be based on an open discussion of the facts. He said he had helped reporters and others understand technical details of his report.

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