In his first term as North Dallas' state representative, Jason Villalba established himself as a serious, policy-minded lawmaker focused on finding common-sense solutions to important problems, like freeing Mavs fans from stupid and outdated liquor laws. Unapologetically conservative, to be sure, but in a reasonable, non-pandering way that has won respect, if not agreement, from a lot of those to his political left. Even when he carried a bill to arm school employees post-Sandy Hook, it seemed less like he was trolling liberals than addressing a matter of legitimate concern with a controversial but careful and measured piece of legislation.

Wednesday, he veered off course and proposed an amendment to the state constitution barring state agencies and local governments from "burden[ing] in any way a person 's free exercise of religion." Before he posted a link on Facebook to a hyperventilating Empower Texans article describing Plano's passage of an ordinance barring various forms of anti-gay discrimination. Villalba wrote:

We must stand athwart those who seek to eliminate every vestige of our religious heritage from the public square. Tomorrow, we fight back. I look forward to working with Matt Krause and the Liberty Institute to ensure that our Citizenry and our children will not face infringement on their religious freedoms.

In this case, of course, the freedom that's being protected is the ability to deny employment or refuse service at businesses to people based on their sexual orientation, as several of Villalba's constituents reminded him on Facebook. (One comment: "Always thought you were an ally. Obviously I was wrong.")