Described by some of her former staffers as the worst boss in Washington, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) is rarely out of the national spotlight. And while she is often justly attacked by the media for her diva-like behavior and ability to turn any event or sound bite into a controversy, a recent attack on her by The Washington Post was unwarranted.
The Washington Post reported that Jackson Lee has secured $5.3 million in federal funds for the University of Houston since 2009. The article implies that Jackson Lee secured these funds because her husband, Elwyn Lee, is employed by the University.
Elwyn Lee, the vice president for community relations and institutional access, began his career at UH in 1978. This was long before Jackson Lee made her move to Washington.
In fact, he made the jump to vice president for student affairs, a position he held from 1991 to 2011, nearly four years before Jackson Lee became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
It is ludicrous to imply that Jackson Lee secured funds for UH based solely on the fact that her husband is employed here. His position at the University was secured before she was even in a position where she could send federal tax money his way.
Jackson Lee secured the $5.3 million for UH because UH is inside her congressional district. This means that Jackson Lee was doing what she was elected to do in the securing of these funds — she was serving the people of her district.
Elwyn Lee said in statement that none of the money Jackson Lee secured for UH was directed to areas that were under his supervision.
“It is not my responsibility, and it has never been my responsibility, to secure Congressional earmarks,” Elwyn Lee said.
He is right in saying that it was never his responsibility to secure those funds. It was the responsibility of his wife, and she has done her best to fulfill that responsibility.
Do you kids take any time to write this stuff or do you make it up as you go along?
Another shining example of cluelessness from UH newshounds. Might I point out that you didn't even bother identifying the issue of the Post with which you so adamantly disagree. Ergo, you should next time write, to wit, " In its (day/date) edition, The Washington Post…." One would hope you wouldn't mind readers checking YOUR facts, after all.
you know we pay people specifically to lobby the govt and get as much money to our school as possible, so why is it so 'ludicrous' that she would show some favoritism to her husband's place of business?
no one said the funds came to uh Solely because elwyn works here – but it's foolish to say that the Post is wrong just because he's been working here for a long time and his dept didn't receive money. if that's the best defense they can come up with, i'd guess that there was some underhanded dealings or they just don't respect the intelligence of readers enough to put up a better defense.
elwyn says he never talked to her about it, but there's some things you don't have to say.
if you can't see a conflict of interest in a wife giving tax dollars to her husband's place of business, then you need a new set of eyes. maybe this kind of conflict is unavoidable when powerful people tend to marry each other and work in the same districts, but that doesn't mean we can't better regulate or monitor this problem.
Hello, my name is Sabrina A. Weightman, I attended the University of Houston main campus in the summer of 2008 as a transfer student. I met Dr. Elwyn C. Lee, the husband of CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, and the former UH System vice chancellor for student affairs and UH vice president for student affairs during the fall semester of 2008. He has been assigned to a newly created Cabinet-level position of vice president for community relations and institutional access.
CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE HUSBAND began stalking me in the fall semester of 2010 while I was living in the UH Calhoun Lofts campus apartments which Dr. Elwyn C. Lee had easy access to because as vice chancellor of student affairs, university housing was one of his departments.
CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE HUSBAND was investigated by the University by Dr. Richard Baker (713-743-8844) the director of the office of affirmative action. He did not do a thorough investigation.
CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE HUSBAND, Dr. Elwyn C. Lee is currently stalking and torturing me as I type this e-mail. Please read the attached article that explains what and how this evil man is able to stalk and torture me.
PLEASE HELP ME!
Sabrina Weightman
972-222-2445