State House Rep. Kyle Tasker (R-Nottingham), a sponsor of legislation that would expand the use of mental health courts, opposes the bill he is sponsoring.

“Crazy people need to face consequences equal or greater than everyone else,” he explained in a series of Facebook comments.

House Bill 1442 would allow circuit and superior courts to establish mental health courts, which seek to treat mentally ill, nonviolent offenders rather than incarcerate them.

Tasker objects. “If you are unable to distinguish between obeying and breaking the law you represent a clear and present danger to yourself and the fabric of society as a whole,” he wrote.

“The idea that being crazy is a shield against the full force of the justice system is laughable,” he continued. “Texas doesn’t have any problem executing the mentally ill.”

Tasker regrets sponsoring the bill. “Damn it this is why you need the full language before you sign off on bills like this…now my name is attached to this turd,” he complained.

So why would he sponsor a bill he disdains? “I know what happened.” he wrote, “I traded horses with the sponsor to get her to sponsor my cameras on state troopers bill.”