Chaos in the Texas House

[mattdavis11]

Here's a nice little article. http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-texas-legislature,0,1730980.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

I was having lunch with a well respected member of our community yesterday, and among the topics was why I left my former career. My answer was that I became too cynical. The process is falling apart at the seams, and this is the head it finally came to.

The Speaker is wrong. He has to recognize ANY member for a privileged motion. Parliamentary procedure has been being circumvented like this since 2003. Two of my good friends left their post last night, only to bring in another friend to fill one of the two spots. I hope he can talk some since into the Speaker, and have him do what's right.

I'm glad I can sit back and watch this go down without worrying about the ramifications of such actions.

[Hugh R]

So you are/were an elected politician?

[mattdavis11]

No, I have never been elected to a public office, nor have I ever run. I just played the game that is politics for the last ten years.

[74-911]

Craddick has been running the house like his personal fiefdom since he became speaker. I hope the revolt succeeds.

I believe the framers of the current TX constitution were right by requiring (or allowing??) the Legislative branch to meet only every other year.... they can't do much damage when they don't meet. As a San Antonio columnist used to say when the legislature convened: "bury the silver and hide the women and children".

[mattdavis11]

The problem arises because he will not recognize anyone to move the motion, thus the revolt can't go forward.

I share in the opinion of many others, including former and current parliamentarians, that he is in direct violation of the rules concerning procedure.

Not only that, Craddick might have temporarily appointed officers who are still receiving compensation from entities that are doing business with, or for the State of Texas.

There is a clear violation of the Ethics laws if those two appointed officers hadn't resigned from previous obligations prior to accepting the appointments.

These direct inquiries are not being answered at this time.

[jyl]

I had no idea what you all were talking about, until I read an article or two.

Sounds like the Speaker is self-destructing in slow motion. I hope he has his next career ready.

http://www.themonitor.com/news/craddick_2650___article.html/house_bills.html

AUSTIN – Fierce opposition to House Speaker Tom Craddick that has simmered for weeks boiled over late Friday night after Craddick repeatedly refused to recognize critics on the House floor who want to oust him.

At one point, Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, asked to be recognized for to make a motion to vacate the chair, or kick Craddick out. Craddick refused to recognize him for the motion. Hill asked to appeal. Craddick again said the rules don’t allow it.

The House chambers were packed and onlookers filled nearly every seat in the gallery above the House to see the unusual drama that played out over six hours. Most late nights, when the tour groups have long gone, a handful of lobbyists and legislative staff workers sit in the gallery.

Hill is one of several Republicans who have filed paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission to run against Craddick for Speaker. Hill said if Craddick will not recognize opponents for the motion, they appear to be at a dead end for now.

“As long as we’re willing to abide by the rules of the House we don’t have a choice,” Hill said after the House adjourned around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. “But we do have a choice for the next 18 months. We can work toward electing a new Speaker.”

The House has simmered with a possible insurrection for weeks. On May 8, the House voted for the first time in more than 30 years to overrule a decision of the Speaker, saying he was ignoring House rules on where bills can be placed on the calendar.

His critics, some of them former allies, have accused him of having an autocratic leadership style. Craddick fended off a challenge for his seat at the beginning of the session, but his critics have said the race didn’t move him to reform and that he rules by self-interest and intimidation.

He is serving his third term as Speaker, a position he’s had since 2003 when Republicans took over the Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction.

Craddick did not talk to reporters afterward but released a statement.

“The Speaker’s position is that he will see to it that the House conducts the important business of the state,” he said. “The other side wants to go outside the House Rules to carry out a speaker’s race during the session, and we are not going to play that game.”

Some Rio Grande Valley House members received plum committee assignment this session for pledging their support to Craddick. They are: Rep. Ismael “Kino” Flores, D-Palmview; Rep. Aaron Pena, D-Edinburg; Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City; and Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville.

Lucio announced earlier this week he was withdrawing his support.

“I gave him a session to prove that he could solidify and unify the body so we could work on critical legislation … The House could not be more divided,” Lucio said.

Lawmakers have yet to give final approval to the budget, their only duty as required by the Constitution. They plan to pass the budget this weekend and must adjourn by Monday.

The mutiny began around 7:30 p.m. when Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, the Democratic leader in the House, asked Craddick if House rules required that Craddick recognize someone who wants to make a motion to oust the speaker.

After a series of procedural remarks, Craddick said an opponent could not make a motion to oust him unless he recognizes that person, effectively making it impossible for the Speaker to be ousted.

Craddick recessed for about an hour, and returned around 8:45 to say he would continue with the regular calendar to hear bills. When a Democrat objected, he recessed until 11 p.m., halting the movement of all legislation in the hours before another midnight deadline and effectively killing many bills.

Democrats and Republicans shouted angrily at Craddick when he ordered the House to take a recess until 11 p.m. Some yelled “No! No!,” others barked in disapproval.

Craddick rushed off the floor to his office.

“This is anarchy. This is America. You don’t do this,” said Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker.

Dunnam said around 9:45 p.m. that he sent a message to Craddick through a Craddick ally asking to resume business to pass bills before midnight. He told reporters that Craddick, through the messenger, refused.

Craddick’s parliamentarian, Denise Davis, who interprets House rules and the Texas Constitution for Craddick, and her deputy, Chris Griesel, resigned, effective immediately, a highly unusual move.

They each said in their resignation letter, released by Craddick’s office, “it is with deep regret that I am unable to continue to serve the House as a House officer.”

Craddick emerged from his office after 11 p.m. and introduced his new parliamentarian, Republican Terry Keel, and deputy parliamentarian Democrat Ron Wilson, both former House members. He said he planned to try to pass some bills before the midnight deadline, disregarding the furor on the floor.

His critics said they were angry that Davis was gone and questioned why Keel had been in a consulting job with Craddick recently and was now in a position where he was expected to be impartial for the House.

Throughout the night, Craddick critics would take the microphone and ask a series of questions about how to oust a Speaker. Keel, armed with a rule book, would cite procedures to Craddick and Craddick would repeat them to the House. The gist: he can do as he pleases in terms of recognizing a lawmaker for a motion.

“It is obvious that a speaker has discretion to recognize a member for any matter,” Craddick said.

Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, grilled Craddick from the back microphone, saying Craddick ignored Davis’ advice on an important ruling and questioning the sudden departure of the parliamentarian.

“I presume there must be some ability by the membership to overrule a clear abuse of power,” Smith told reporters later.

The House convenes at 11 a.m. Saturday.

[mattdavis11]

I feel so bad for the House, the integrity is lost. We have a safety net if the rules are silent, which they are on this issue. They didn't even refer to Mason's manual on parliamentary procedure because he wouldn't recognize the member(s), which he has to for this type of motion. That's why his parliamentarian walked.

It's doesn't matter though, the session is over today.

For the record, I like Mr. Speaker, I think he has done great things, but the manner in which he has done them is stinky.

[tabs]

There is a way to end his reign...nobody vote on the Bills. IF there are ZERO votes or not enough for a quorum hes done. However nobody should walk, just not cast a vote.

[tabs]

OR VOTE EVERY BILL DOWN..any Bill worthy of passage can be resurected at a later date. 100% DOWN>>.

[tabs]

This is essentially a vote of no confidence in his Leadership.

[mattdavis11]

That would have been a bad idea. They have to pass the appropriations bill eventually. They did last night nearing the deadline hour. They also passed a bill last night which lacked the number of votes required to show a quorum.

The only way I could see a member being effective is by moving the motion to adjourn, pending the vacancy of the chair. It's a double motion, but you can't let the Speaker know of the second.
It probably wouldn't happen though.

There is rumor that he will resign today. I'm not sure if that is referring to his duties as Speaker, or his resignation as a house member. We shall see.

[tabs]

Not quiet....yes perhaps eventually, but they can delay it and make it stink. To show a vote of no confidence, lack of effective leadership etc. Its called Obstructurism.

[MRM]

Reminds me of the horror stories told in Caro's biographies of Lyndon Johnson.

The real horror of it all is that the people of Texas appear to prefer their state to work like this. The sentiment seems to be, if you have a complaint, you too can do a little work for a legislator and get your palm greased. If you don't want to join in the pork, what's your complaint?

[tabs]

Well it just goes to show ya Texans are stupid...One thing it is supreamely childish to walk out, you give up all your leverage.