[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.