| House Speaker Craddick blamed winter storms Thursday for his inability to announce Committee Assignments as planned. Due to icy conditions, the Speaker claims he was unable to meet with key House members and as a result, the Assignment Announcement was postponed indefinitely.
The Statesman, however, reports that there may be a different motive behind the delay;
Given that 68 House members signaled their opposition to Craddick's re-election on Jan. 9, Craddick promised in the election aftermath to be kinder-and-gentler in running the House, listening more to the members than ramrodding his agenda.
The delay, according to Craddick loyalists who sought anonymity because their committee assignments are in play, is prompted more by his longest-serving allies feeling they are not getting enough in return for their loyalty. As Craddick told members of his new team what their assignments would be, the word trickled out to other members. Some weren't satisfied. Craddick is finding it hard to please everyone-or at least the 80 members who stuck with him.
Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, is questioning Craddick's motives. "He's not kinder and gentler," said Talton, who voted against Craddick. "He's just trying to be smarter."
As we read daily reports of new bills filed in the Senate, the days roll on without any sign of progress in the House. What appears to be bitter infighting and an overall lack of Republican leadership continues to prevent our state from seeking the Legislative attention it deserves.
Though it is far from the list we would like to provide, The Statesman tells us:
On Wednesday, sources close to the process said two Central Texas Democrats, Dawnna Dukes of Austin and Patrick Rose of Dripping Springs, would get key assignments on appropriations and human services, respectively. The other Craddick loyalists in the Central Texas delegation, Republicans Mike Krusee and Dan Gattis, both of Williamson County, would stay on transportation and appropriations, respectively. |
| In another story I found on The Statesman, one Democratic Representative is angry for an entirely different reason. Her story is a great reminder that our problem is not confined to the Republican Party.
Rep. Terri Hodge, D-Dallas, sees a smoky implication in House Speaker Tom Craddick not naming committees until next week.
The rub: House members changed their internal rules this month to bar smoking in their lounge off the House floor. They also directed the (yet-to-be-appointed) Administration Committee to designate a nearby spot for House members to puff.
She said she might light up in the lounge anyway until the alternate site gets designated.
She said there's another wrinkle in the House rules she might exploit; members are not explicitly barred from smoking on the House floor, in front of everybody. Fumed Hodge: "There surely would be a kinder, gentler way of doing this."
Doesn't it just sound like it would make for a great skit on The Daily Show? I would love to see her light up a Cigarette right in the middle of Committee and try to defend herself saying, "But...its not explicitly barred..." |
