Reply #24: The House struggles to move forward [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

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