Apples and oranges?
Berman to Hill: You better turn that finger around, buddy.
That's paraphrased. Here's an argument going around the floor, pointed out by Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, chair of the House Elections Committee.
Local Ways and Means Chairman Fred Hill, R-Richardson, speaker candidate who made the first (of several subsequent) motions to vacate the chair last night, bottled up the appraisal caps legislation in his committee this session by refusing to give it a hearing. Mr. Berman says that by using his powers of recognition to refuse to recognize a member to bring up a bill for a hearing, Hill's being a hypocrite for bashing Craddick's decision not to recognize members for a motion.
Interesting point, but I'd point out this difference.
Craddick is saying that his refusal to recognize members for a motion to vacate cannot be appealed - that basically, once he invokes that power, it is absolute and there is no check-and-balance. He cannot be appealed.
Hill, however, and other chairmen who use that power don't have the same luxury. There is a very distinct way the House can, in fact, appeal it - by springing it from committee with 25 votes and a supermajority vote on the House floor.
That's a tough hill to climb, but it does exist. There's a hill, and there's a way over it.
Comments
Additionally it's not as if a member could just bring up a bill in a committee hearing if they were recognized. There are house posting rules and and the open meetings act to consider.
Posted by: Lefty | May 26, 2007 2:01 PM
What a bunch a bafoons. I hope that everyone of these RINOs has a Republican Primary opponent. They are making the Texas Legislature the laughing stock of the nation.
Posted by: tommy merritt's brain | May 26, 2007 2:16 PM
Actually, though it would have a more severe result, Craddick could be impeached by the same super majority required to kick the bill out of committee.
Posted by: Dukakis_in_a_tank | May 26, 2007 5:39 PM