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May 26, 2007
Chaos
In what can only be described as surreal (if not unanticipated) developments last night, the Texas House of Representatives descended into chaos last night as insurgent members tried unsuccessfully to "vacate the Chair" and remove Tom Craddick as Speaker of the House.
As members rose to move to vacate the Chair, Craddick simply refused to recognize them. He then abruptly recessed the House until 11 pm. Business resumed until adjournment at about 1:30 am this morning, and resumed about 11 am.
Craddick's behavior is nothing short of stunning, and resulted in the immediate resignations of the two House parlimentarians. Craddick quickly replaced them with former Reps. Ron Wilson and Terry Keel. (Houstonians will note with interest Wilson's prominent reappearance in the House after the former Craddick lieutenant was defeated in the 2004 Democratic primary.)
Today, attempts resumed to move Craddick, but were once again denied. Meanwhile, at least some of the House's remaining business proceeds.
The session ends on Monday, so stay tuned -- this is going down to the wire.
Posted by houtopia at 03:39 PM | Comments (0)
May 22, 2007
Craddick's Gift
The craziness in Austin continues. With the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature set to end in less than a week, the House is abuzz with talk of an imminent leadership challenge to Speaker Tom Craddick. Several Republican members have announced their intention to run for Speaker -- some now, and some for the next session in 2009. Whether or not Craddick's speakership will survive the end of the session is anybody's guess.
The question for Democrats is, do they want Craddick gone this soon? Considering the Speaker's iron-fisted and exclusionary leadership style, not to mention the destructive legislation enacted by the House during his tenure, it is understandable that House Democrats wish to see him exit his post as soon as humanly possible. We are not convinced, however, that his departure now makes good political sense for Texas Democrats.
There is likely good reason the House Republican rank and file is itching for a mutiny against Craddick; reason beyond their objections to his leadership style. Many in the GOP realize Speaker Tom Craddick is a liability to his party in 2008, both in the primary and general elections, and they'd just as soon clean up this mess before it sullies their political prospects next year.
Think about it. A weakened and angry Craddick survives another session; a session sorely lacking in substantive legislative accomplishments to deal with the state's myriad public policy challenges. Hard feelings within the Republican caucus abound -- feelings that will almost certainly transfer to some nasty GOP primary fights, with unpredictable results. In their primary, Democrats zero in on Craddick's remaining supporters in the House and target them for defeat, likely with at least some success. In the general election, Democrats trot out Craddick as the poster boy for failure in the Legislature and a catalyst for change. Decent chance they gain seats for the third consecutive cycle, cutting the GOP's House margin to a razor thin number. (The Democrats now have to gain only seven seats to regain control of the House.) Craddick would be finished as Speaker for 2009 under these circumstances.
In our judgment, a Craddick speakership that continues through the 2008 election is in Texas Democrats' interest. The policy damage for this session is largely done, so it's not as if deposing him now will yield any positive changes on state issues. And his weakened state, coupled with the internal Republican rancor and division he causes are political gifts that keep on giving for Dems. No wonder the GOP wants to cut him loose. We say, don't do Texas Republicans any favors. Keep Tom Craddick around through 2008.
Posted by houtopia at 03:58 PM
May 18, 2007
It's All About The Kids
The results are in folks. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst can declare the 80th session of the Texas Legislature a resounding success. After passing the House today Dewhurst's beloved Jessica's Law, his crowning policy achievement since coming to Austin, is headed to Governor Rick Perry's desk where it is expected to be signed. We can breathe easy now -- the problems of our state have been solved. And David Dewhurst has put the children of Texas first (even ahead of his gubernatorial ambitions.)
After all, we all want to do whatever we can to protect Texas children, right? And executing those who prey on them is priority one on the Dewhurst agenda, even if it means passing symbolic legislation likely to be struck down by the courts.
Never mind that 40% of Texas kids don't graduate from high school -- that takes a back seat. It's too bad that hundreds of thousands of our children have been wrongfully booted from the CHIP program and lack even basic health care coverage -- the Lite Guv couldn't be bothered to push through legislation to correct that problem; in fact, he stood in its way. And protecting children and all Texans from polluters who prey on the public health? Well, we can't go letting big-city mayors tell industry what to do -- especially if they might want to be governor too.
That's right folks -- it's all about the kids with David Dewhurst, at least the ones who vote in the Republican primary.
But where has your shameless pandering gotten you, Mr. Lt. Governor? Did you read Mark Lisheron's piece in today's Statesman -- you know, the one that chronicles the bitterness your behavior has created in the Senate? Buried way down in the story are some choice words from your old buddy Dan Patrick, you know, the new guy who is beloved by the right wing and who has launched many a radio diatribe at your expense.
You blinked, Governor Dewhurst, and don't think for a minute that Mr. Patrick and his followers will let you forget it. The base of your party doesn't like you any more today than it did before you began this transparently political game.
But just keep telling yourself, it's all about the kids.
Posted by houtopia at 03:58 PM
May 15, 2007
Profile In Statesmanship
Once upon a time, Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst seemed the only member of the Republican triumverate running the show in Austin who cared about bipartisanship and cooperation. In contrast to Governor Rick Perry and Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, Dewhurst embraced the collegial tradition of the Texas Senate during his first two legislative sessions by seeking compromise and preserving the rules (with one big exception on redistricting, courtesy of some serious strongarming by Tom DeLay.)
The "two-thirds" rule is an important Senate tradition that has protected the minority party for decades. It in effect requires a two-thirds vote of the body to suspend the rules and consider each bill. Republicans currently hold a 20 to 11 advantage in the Senate, one short of the required two-thirds majority. Dewhurst has been under tremendous pressure from GOP activists to break with tradition and do away with the two-thirds rule and ease passage of the party's legislative agenda. Dewhurst, to his credit, has largely resisted, which has put him on less than solid footing with his party's conservative base.
This session, however, it's been a different David Dewhurst. He is clearly interested in a 2010 gubernatorial run, and much of his behavior during the 2007 session seems colored by that ambition. For one thing, Dewhurst has been obsessed with passing Jessica's Law -- a perhaps well-intentioned, but poorly crafted piece of legislation aimed at executing child sex predators. Prosecutors and criminal experts have decried the bill's potential to reduce reporting of such heinous crimes, most of which are committed by family members, but no matter. Dewhurst must have his Jessica's Law. His tactics on CHIP, the Texas Youth Commission scandal, and recently trying to snuff Houston Mayor Bill White's (another potential 2010 rival) anti-pollution policy have shown him a much harsher partisan light.
Today, Dewhurst simply crossed the line. After Democratic Senator Carlos Uresti notified colleagues that he was too ill to make it in this morning, the Lite Guv allowed a vote on the controversial voter ID bill and all hell broke loose. Once again, Burka Blog has the skinny.
Dewhurst, desperately trying to shore up Republican primary support for a future election, sold out Senate tradition and damaged his credibility as head of that body. And for what? Mr. Dewhurst might consider the recent example of one John McCain, a GOP presidential hopeful who played right wing pander bear to the hilt in recent months. McCain's transparent ploy got him nowhere -- he cratered in the polls; in fact he's recently eschewed these tactics in favor of returning to his maverick roots.
The problem for Dewhurst is his first two sessions defined him in the eyes of GOP party faithful, and they simply don't like him (which listening to the Dan Patrick radio show will confirm). So pulling stunts like today isn't likely to help him much in the primary anyway, but damages his mainstream credibility as an elected official.
Which is why David Dewhurst gets our Profile in Statesmanship award for this session.
Posted by houtopia at 10:25 PM
May 14, 2007
Remarkable
After a week out of town for some R&R, we're back, and color us dumbfounded at what is transpiring in Austin right now.
The biennial session of the Texas Legislature, which is drawing to a close in the next few weeks, has been more of the same, for those who have followed the last few sessions. In other words, the Republican majority, led by House Speaker Tom Craddick, has ducked the real long-term challenges facing this state (read: public education) in favor of short-term measures designed to keep the status quo, with as many divisive social issue bills as possible thrown in.
Lege watchers know that Craddick, after two successive sessions of iron-fisted control of the House, narrowly survived a challenge to his speakership when the session began in January. In what can only be described as unheard of, Craddick now faces another challenge as the session winds down. Wow. Will the coup kill the king? Who knows, but the very fact it's occurring is remarkable, to say the least.
For all the blow-by-blow inside baseball coverage, check out Paul Burka.
Posted by houtopia at 11:02 PM
May 06, 2007
Tough Day For Houston Sports Fans
The Rockets are out of the playoffs, and the Rocket is headed back to New York. Two bitter pills to swallow for Houston sports fans in the span of less than 24 hours.
After losing a hard-fought series to the Utah Jazz, we wonder, will the Rockets make significant personnel changes for next season? Will Jeff Van Gundy return as head coach? Will Tracy McGrady finally take the next step toward filling in the one glaring hole in his basketball resume?
For the Astros, will enough of their young pitching prospects deliver enough for the team to field a solid starting rotation? (So far the answer is yes.) Will this team ever begin to hit with any consistency? (A big no so far.)
Of course, in light of this, these questions that consume so many of us really shouldn't matter, should they?
Posted by houtopia at 04:01 PM