'This is my chamber, too'
A few minutes ago, Speaker Tom Craddick stopped answering questions from half a dozen members who had been leading the charge to remove him and went on to the House calendar to try to pass 11 bills eligible for consideration by midnight.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Jim Dunnam protested, "Does anyone's voice in this chamber matter but yours? And Mr. Keel's? And Mr. Wilson's?" He was referring to new parliamentarians Terry Keel and Ron Wilson.
Mr. Craddick replied, "We're going to follow the House rules."
"We're going to follow the House rules?" Mr. Dunnam shot back. "When?"
The gallery broke into cheers and applause.
Mr. Dunnam added, "This is my chamber, too, Mr. Speaker."
Comments
What was the deal with Dutton's objection to the sex victims bill? And what do liquor stores have to do with sex trafficking?
Posted by: Julie | May 26, 2007 12:03 AM
I believe that he objected to expanding the use of this new tax on sexually oriented businesses to help victims of human trafficking. Originally, the bill helped sex-abuse victims. At any rate, Mr. Dutton's attempt to narrow the beneficiaries was defeated by a big margin.
Posted by: rtgarrett | May 26, 2007 12:14 AM
NO ONE HAS ABSOLUTE POWER THE HOUSE CAN AND SHOULD CONTROL THE HOUSE AND THE SPEAKER CAN NOT WITHSTAND THE WILL OF 100 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE. KICK THE CURRENT SPEAKER OUT IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAT WHAT HE HAS DONE TONIGHT!!!
Posted by: JAMES TAYLOR | May 26, 2007 12:32 AM
I'm 18 years old, and i can not wait to vote so people like him aren't in the house.
He obviously doesn't know his power because he's being spoonfed information he should know as being speaker of the house. Nobody is going to believe an 18 year old is watching, but my voice counts now too.
My vote obviously will go against people like Craddick in the next election. My very first vote.
Posted by: Scott | May 26, 2007 12:33 AM
He is not wielding absolute power. And it is normal to have the parliamentarian scripting exchanges about procedures and rules. It is a system of checks and balances within checks and balances. He can set the agenda, within the limits of members willingness to vote for or against certain measures. His strengths are building coalitions for his priorities, and certainly his presence (or lack thereof) at the podium is one of his weaknesses.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 26, 2007 12:43 AM
Okay, now i feel bad. Maybe i just jumped to the wrong conclusion.
They just need to do a mic check there's probably just an echo. I still don't like craddick, so don't think i'm backing him up.
Posted by: Scott | May 26, 2007 12:44 AM
This is ridiculous.
Posted by: jojo | May 26, 2007 12:46 AM
Scott, that ain't no echo. That's just the sound of an empty mind.
Posted by: Francisco | May 26, 2007 12:51 AM
We didn't learn about any of these rules in my Government class. I don't understand how someone can be elected but somehow can't be unelected. It seems like everybody thinks he should not be speaker, so why doesn't the house have the rule in this case?
Posted by: Scott | May 26, 2007 1:08 AM
Name me one constitutional office, Federal or state, that can be "unelected."
Maybe you need to read your textbook again.
Some charters and constitutions allow for recall but it is always multi-step first. And the other is impeachment and then a vote of guilty in the other body.
People are not "unelected" until the next regular election. In this case, the start of the 81st Legislature.
Posted by: Robert Pratt | May 26, 2007 1:48 AM
Dear Scott, as best we can tell Craddick still has a MAJORITY of supporters just as he did when elected Speaker. Even then, according to the press, "everbody" was against him. Do you think before you write?
Posted by: Robert Pratt | May 26, 2007 1:49 AM
Jim Dumb-Dumb is a lawyer who represents child molesters. Sorry folks -- that's a fact.
Posted by: P. | May 26, 2007 3:16 AM
Scott, stick to your guns and what you see. If the Speaker were "following the rules" as some of your respondents indicate, the Parliamentarian and Deputy Parliamentarian, lawyers whose job it is to know the rules, would not have resigned tonight!
Posted by: FromAustin | May 26, 2007 6:00 AM
Mr. Pratt. Scott is young, give him a break. He's learning the ways of the wacky world of politics.
He's a young person asking questions, which is alright by me.
Posted by: jojo | May 26, 2007 11:00 AM
Tom Craddick is the elected speaker of the House, Our elected officials need to be about take care of the peoples business since that is why we sent them there.
Posted by: Chuck Richardson | May 26, 2007 11:42 AM