State Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, is not the first legislator to be concerned about texting while driving (story, Sun Journal, Sept. 1). It is a national concern and even Oprah is involved with banning the practice.

As a state senator, I tried to introduce a bill (LR 2606) to prohibit texting while operating a motor vehicle. The bill was heard by the Legislative Council, which is composed of legislative leadership and controlled by the Democrats. They would not allow my bill to move forward. The Democrats killed my proposed bill.

Please don’t tell me my bill was too late in the legislative session, or that the Distracted Driver Law covers the problem — it doesn’t. Texting and the use of electronic devices is a critical highway problem.

It seems that the Democrats and Sen. Diamond will use the issue to their advantage.

I tried. It might have saved lives this year.

Sen. Walter R. Gooley, R-Farmington