CAPITOL LETTERS

House Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner, a Craddick ally, didn't vote when the budget passed in the Appropriations Committee this morning. The Houston Democrat explained -- oh, did he explain -- why: He suspects he's being "suckered" to move the budget along but will see his priorities gutted by the Senate.

"I don't want to be hoodwinked," Mr. Turner said in an at times passionate, sometimes funny exchange with Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum, R-Pampa.

"Don't wave a carrot and keep moving the carrot away, and I keep chasing the carrot," said Mr. Turner, who fears the Senate will strip out money to help poor families pay electric bills and to provide health coverage for more poor children. "I'm not falling for that."

Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, then tried to ask a question of Mr. Turner. But he either didn't hear her, or pretended not to. He hunched over to whisper to a seat mate, Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El Paso.

"Mr. Speaker Pro Tem!" said Ms. McClendon, asking a question about Mr. Turner's bill to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program. "Mr. Speaker Pro Tem!"

No answer.

"He's chasing carrots over here," Mr. Chisum said, to much laughter from committee members and the audience.