Texas Legislature ignites with push to oust Craddick

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Houston Chronicle

May 26, 2007, 1:51AM
THE LEGISLATURE
Texas Legislature ignites with push to oust Craddick
Speaker says he wouldn't have to recognize motion for ouster

By R.G. RATCLIFFE and JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — The Texas House fell into chaos Friday night as its parliamentarians resigned and Speaker Tom Craddick brought the chamber to a standstill for 2 1/2 hours, saying he does not have to recognize a member for a motion to throw him out of office.

Shortly after midnight, state Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, a candidate for speaker, read a motion to vacate the chair to throw Craddick out of office and asked if Craddick would recognize him to make that motion. Craddick said he would not.

Hill then asked if the House could vote on overriding Craddick's refusal to recognize him for that motion. Craddick said he would not.

Hill moved to suspend the House rules, but Craddick said, "You're not recognized for that motion." Further, Craddick said his ruling was unappealable.

Earlier, the Texas Eagle forum sent out an emergency message to members claiming a "coup d'etat" was taking place in the House and urged members to call Republican lawmakers to pledge loyalty to Craddick.





Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4837804.html

[DFW]

1. Craddick has been an embarrassment to us as long as he's been there

If fellow Republicans are leading the charge, it's only a matter of time.

DeLay's last stand, until he's relegated entirely to lobbying and talk shows.

[kurth]

2. Texas Republicans are a menace

as we all know.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. Some days menace just isn't strong enough.

If ever there was a species that should become extinct it is Texas Republicans.

[Gman]

3. As long as they're tied up like this

We're safer than we would be if they were trying to push through onerous legislation.

[antigop]

11. They managed to push through "onerous legislation"

(Texas) Senate OKs bill for school Bible classes
http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4831635.html

>>
The Senate easily passed and sent to the governor a bill Wednesday to teach Bible classes to high school students, but lawmakers immediately disagreed on whether the measure would make the courses mandatory.

Legislative leaders differed on whether school districts may offer the religion studies course, or whether they are obligated to do so if 15 or more students sign up for it. Both "may" and "shall" show up in different sections of the House bill that the Senate passed 28-2 without changing.
>>

[rodeodance]

5. Texas Department of Public Safety officers took positions outside the House to be ready if called up

Texas Department of Public Safety officers took positions outside the House to be ready if called upon to restore order.

"This was a scene out of Lord of the Flies," said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio.

Craddick has been under fire from insurgent lawmakers who say he has been dictatorial in running the House. They also have complained that Craddick makes rulings from the chair that do not follow House rules.

His sudden decision to shut down the House for 2 1/2 hours publicly reinforced that view.

Craddick brought the House back into session at 11 p.m., urging them to work on bills that still were pending. He said it was important to pass a supplemental appropriations bill by midnight.

[stillcool]

7. Insurgent Lawmakers?

yikes...

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

14. They're like activist judges and legislative terrorists.

Because disagreeing with the ruler is a crime, a sin, and a perversion of American democracy.

[rodeodance]

6. why is this paper calling the lawmakers "insurgents"

Craddick has been under fire from insurgent lawmakers who say he has been dictatorial in running the House. They also have complained that Craddick makes rulings from the chair that do not follow House rules.

His sudden decision to shut down the House for 2 1/2 hours publicly reinforced that view.

Craddick brought the House back into session at 11 p.m., urging them to work on bills that still were pending. He said it was important to pass a supplemental appropriations bill by midnight.

Opponents said the bill could easily be passed later by a vote to suspend House rules. The opposition continued to press Craddick about how he might be unseated.

When Craddick tried to ignore Democratic Caucus Chairman Jim Dunnam, the Waco lawmaker said: "Does anyone in this chamber's voice matter but yours?"

"We're going to follow the House rules," Craddick replied.

"When?" Dunnam said, followed by whoops and applause from the packed gallery.

The House adjourned around 1:30 a.m. without further action on Craddick.

What had started as a plodding day of legislating in the House suddenly turned electric as insurgents began asking Craddick how he would rule on allowing a member to make a motion to remove him as presiding officer.

Craddick said he didn't have to do it. And when insurgents tried to press him for answers about whether he was lying on what advice he had received from parliamentarians, Craddick gaveled the House to stand at ease for 2 1/2 hours.

[pingzing58]

8. Let the dogs eat the tail that has wagged them. Any vid yet? n/t

[Demit]

9. Wow. What Molly Ivins would have made of this! I miss Molly.

[Hekate]

25. Oh gods yes! Molly would have been rofl and would have written such prose!

We've lost such a treasure.

Hekate

[amb123]

10. More proof that all Neo-Con Repubs are wanna-be Dictators

:nuke:

[PDittie]

12. Some live-blogging from last night

here:

http://www.burntorangereport.com/frontPage.do

And some video stream here (they're back in session):

http://www.house.state.tx.us/fx/av/live/extlive80kchamber.ram (Real Player)

[Judi Lynn]

15. My gosh. Thanks for the live Texas House video link. Outstanding! n/t

[Straight Shooter]

13. Remember the brouhaha when Craddic referred to the Dems as the "Chicken D's"?

He repeated it over and over, "We're calling them the Chicken D's." The label never stuck, and he looked like an idiot for propagating it.

My memory is bad on this. It was a couple years ago, maybe, when the Dems refused to go along and DeLay sent homeland security after them.

Craddick is a dinosaur.

[PDittie]

16. "Otto Craddick" according to Kelso

Mention Craddick’s name and the words “mean,” “small” and “autocratic” come up. I’ve heard him called autocratic so often I’m surprised they haven’t started calling him Otto — as in “Otto” Craddick.

So nevermind being civilized.

Just wait till he’s not there. Then send a moving crew of members into his posh 2,000-square-foot apartment behind the House chamber, and leave his stuff out on the Capitol lawn on bulky trash day.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/05/25/25kelso.html

[struggle4progress]

17. Craddick tells lawmakers they can't overthrow him

Legislature: Democrats blocked from objecting, parliamentarian resigns

12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, May 26, 2007

By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
[e-mail]

AUSTIN – House Speaker Tom Craddick .... also said, during a series of conversations with critics on the floor, that there was no way for the House to appeal his decision.

Mr. Craddick refused to explain his decision and abruptly recessed the House for two and a half hours – leaving the chamber, flanked by his closest allies, under raucous jeers and shouts from angry House members. One Craddick supporter screamed back at them: "This is anarchy!"

Some Democrats approached the dais and tried to turn on microphones to record their objections, but they were stopped by the House sergeant-at-arms and his staff.

Mr. Craddick's rulings were in direct contrast to the advice House parliamentarian Denise Davis and assistant parliamentarian Chris Griesel had been giving members over the last several days – prompting Ms. Davis to resign over the speaker's refusal to follow her legal advice. Mr. Griesel also quit, a spokeswoman for Mr. Craddick later announced. ~snip~

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-speaker_26tex.ART.State.Edition1.43f7011.html

[Judi Lynn]

22. Have NEVER heard of anything remotely like this. They've got a situation there

which only can remind people of the kind of nasty, vicious power grabbing crap the Republicans installed in the White House.

The day's session is still underway. I just checked PDittie's link to live House activity at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2859420#2859665

Don't see Craddick there at the moment, but it looks as if they intend to keep going for hours longer today.

[struggle4progress]

23. Based on what we've seen from the Texans in DC since Jan 01, I'm guessin ..

this might be a fairly standard way of actin amongst Texas Publicans

[struggle4progress]

18. Craddick’s legal rationale released

By Staff | Saturday, May 26, 2007, 03:13 AM

The speaker’s office released this legal rationale for Speaker Tom Craddick not recognizing a motion to remove him from office.

May 26, 2007

The following is being entered into the House Journal by Speaker Tom Craddick:

The office of Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is the only constitutionally-mandated officer of the Texas House by virtue of Article 3, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution. All other officers of the House, including committee chairs, are chosen by rule. The Speaker occupies a unique position in this state as an officeholder in his capacity as a state representative from a particular district of this state and also as the constitutional officeholder of the position of Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

The Texas Constitution speaks to the exclusive grounds for the removal of officeholders. Article 16, Section 5 is applicable to all officeholders and is automatic upon conviction for bribery. Article 3, Section 11 is specific to the legislature, and authorizes each house of the legislature to expel members for offenses upon a two-thirds vote. Article 3, Section 8 vests procedural authority upon each house to judge election contests and qualifications to hold office as a state legislator.

Furthermore, a unique provision of the Texas Constitution, Article 15, Section 7, mandates that the legislature can only provide for the trial and removal from office of any officer of this State by enactment of a law if a mode for a state officer’s removal has not otherwise been specifically provided for in the Texas Constitution. ~snip~

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/legislature/entries/2007/05/26/craddicks_legal_rationale_released.html


Sounds to me like the legislature oughta vote to expel him.

[struggle4progress]

19. House legal aides at epicenter of Capitol speaker drama

~snip~ Parliamentarian Denise Davis and her deputy Chris Griesel abruptly resigned Friday night as Craddick deflected questions from insurgent House members who sought to remove Craddick from his powerful post. ~snip~

Craddick's critics said he ignored the advice of Davis, an attorney who graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1993 and previously held several other state government jobs. ~snip~

Before the resignations were revealed, amid repeated showdowns between Craddick and his opponents, Davis climbed the Capitol stairs to her office nearly in tears. "I'm not going to talk about that," she kept saying. ~snip~

Craddick announced that his new parliamentarians would be allies Terry Keel and Ron Wilson, both former House members who'd recently been privately huddling with Craddick. ~snip~

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/4838902.html

[lligrd]

20. Chaos In Texas House Over Speaker Fight

Source: CBS News

Embattled GOP Leader Faces Skirmishes From "Insurgents" Within Own Party To Remove Him From Post

CBS/AP) Tensions in the Texas House boiled over in a parliamentary showdown between Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick and some GOP and Democratic insurgents.

<snip>

Craddick survived a five-hour rebellion on the House floor that included a bold attempt to boot him from office, the physical restraint of insurgent lawmakers trying to overtake the speaker's podium, and the House parliamentarian nearly pushed to tears before resigning.

With his political career in jeopardy, Craddick charged through a House rebellion that lasted into early Saturday, refusing to give up his leadership post and putting on display the bare-knuckle tenacity that boosted him to power.

CBS Station KEYE correspondent Keith Elkins reports that anti-Craddick forces (known as "the insurgents") have whispered that there would be a move for a member vote to have the Speaker removed. That move came this week — or would have if the Speaker had allowed them to be heard.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/26/politics/main2855251.shtml

---

Ha, and this time the "insurgents" are Republicans.

[struggle4progress]

21. Duplicate. Prior LBN thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2859420&mesg_id=2859420

[Judi Lynn]

24. The House struggles to move forward

May 27, 2007, 1:03AM
The House struggles to move forward
Effort to oust Craddick likely doomed some legislation
By R.G. RATCLIFFE and GARY SCHARRER
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — Decorum returned, but skirmishing continued in the Texas House on Saturday in the push to oust Speaker Tom Craddick as both his supporters and opponents blamed each other for the deaths of dozens of bills in the insurgency.

Though the previous night's overthrow effort failed to get Craddick out of office, the speaker spent very little time on the dais Saturday. Craddick wandered the House chamber making small talk with legislators as Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, verbally sparred with the opposition.

Chaos erupted Friday when speaker candidate Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, attempted to make a motion to vacate Craddick's office, but Craddick refused to allow him to make the motion.

Another of the speaker candidates, Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, made another attempt to make the motion Saturday. But Turner refused to recognize Pitts.

More:
http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4839441.html