The embattled head of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission stepped down on Monday, in what the TABC characterized as a 'retirement after forty years of service to the people of Texas,' but which Gov. Abbott hinted was a firing due to mismanagement of taxpayer money, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Either way, Sherry Cook is out after undergoing a humiliating pounding the hands of a Legislative committee last week over taxpayer funded TABC junkets to Florida, Hawaii, and elsewhere, and attending some functions which were sponsored by the liquor companies the TABC is supposed to be regulating.
But a tweet from Abbott's personal account indicated that Cook's departure may have been less than voluntary:
Greg Abbott Verified account @GregAbbott_TX
It's time to clean house from regulators not spending taxpayer money wisely. This is a good start. #txlege #tcot
State Rep Crhis Harris (R-Ft. Worth) who grilled Cook over TABC spending last week, said her departure was justified."
TABC senior staff was taking taxpayer funded trips to conferences across the country, mainly to Hawaii, a lot of luxury conferences, on the taxpayer dime," he said.
Harris agreed with Abbott that it is time to bounce regulators who behave like this.
"I think its the right decision for the agency, because I think they have to reform their practices and their habits," he said. "I think new leadership is in order."