Thread: TX: House Walkout

80TH LEGISLATURE

Craddick opponents walk out
Lack of quorum shuts down business after budget passes.
By Laylan Copelin, Jason Embry

AMERICAN-STATESMAN


Monday, May 28, 2007

Dozens of lawmakers shut down the Texas House shortly after midnight by walking out after a member tried to take a roll call vote on Speaker Tom Craddick's leadership.

Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso, stunned the House leadership when, during a personal privilege speech, he began taking a roll call vote on Craddick's leadership. Meanwhile, the Midland Republican sat on the podium.

As Haggerty called out the members' names, he asked them to shout out "aye" or "no." Many of Craddick's supporters stood and objected when their names were called.

When Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, who had been presiding, finally stopped the roll call, Haggerty urged the members to leave the chamber.

As the rebel House members streamed out of the chamber, led by Haggerty, a crowd that had been watching in the gallery quickly poured into the hallways and began cheering. Shouts echoed through the Capitol: "Go! Go! Go! Out! Out! Out!"

Inside the chamber, Turner called for a vote. With only 94 votes registered — many suspect because members who left were shown present — there was no longer a quorum. Turner adjourned the House until 2 p.m. today.

The 140-day session ends at midnight, and more than 30 bills are pending on the House calendar. It will take a two-thirds vote of members present to consider any legislation. Among bills in danger are ones dealing with water, child protective services, border security and parks.

For weeks, tensions have run high because many lawmakers want to vote to remove Craddick for what they call his autocratic leadership style. Since Friday night, the emotions have boiled hotter as Craddick has made it clear he will not recognize any member for a motion to remove him.

The departing members rallied briefly in a third-floor lobby outside the Old Supreme Court Chamber as their numbers steadily grew. Each new arrival was greeted by cheers and applause.

Members hugged. Several wiped tears from their eyes.

Within minutes, the number of House members who walked out numbered more than four dozen, with others continuing to arrive.

After adjournment, several House members who had not bolted appeared in the lobby outside the chamber, shaking their fists at those members who left as they were still walking upstairs.

The crowd booed and applauded louder. Several scuffles and shouting matches briefly developed between supporters of the rebels and others who supported the House members who stayed.

"You traitors should stay out — forever," yelled one woman, shouting that the rebels were "voting for anarchy." "We support democracy, not dictatorship," came an answer from a woman on the stairs above.

House sergeants at arms and state troopers moved in to separate the flaring emotions. Within a few minutes, the hall had mostly been cleared — and order was restored.

"What are we going to do now? I don't know, but this is principle," said Rep. Jim McWilliams, D-Lufkin, one of those who left. "We may go back tomorrow, but I don't know if we can take up anything."

Rep. Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock, opposes Craddick but did not leave the floor. He said he thought it was important to continue working.

"I've always wanted to be in the circus, and I guess I'm now there," Jones lamented as he shook his head.

Craddick has not been taking reporters' questions, but his office put out a statement.

"Once again, some members chose to divert the House away from important matters and instead tried to drag the members into a speaker's race while we are in session," it said. "Speaker Craddick made a promise to the members of the House that he would make sure their bills would be heard so their constituents' concerns would be met. This evening a number of bills were put into jeopardy."

Rep. Frank Corte, R-San Antonio and the GOP caucus chairman, called the walkout "disgusting and deplorable."

Some Craddick opponents did not walk out.

"I think it's important to finish the business that we're here to do," said Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs.

Turner has been presiding in Craddick's place for hours at a time. Often he has made the same rulings as Craddick, saying the chair would not recognize members for motions to remove the speaker, among others.

Asked if he agreed with those rulings, Turner said, "The speaker made the ruling. Whether I agree or not, it's my job to carry it out."

He said he was disappointed with the walkout.

"When we go home I don't necessarily think the people at home will fully understand or appreciate the politics that's happening within this chamber," Turner said.

Can it be possible that we actually elected a few honest men this time who will no longer put up with Perry & cohorts dictatorship? YEA HA!!!!

so long suckers... hope you get used to being outside cause now your constituents know where your loyalties lie.

The Wild West of Texas Politics.

I've been in that outer hallway, it's not that big of space and it's less than 100 feet from the railing below the dome.

The Democrats are blocking votes on good sound legislation in the Senate too. Several years ago, the Dems ran off to Oklahoma to cause trouble. They are supposedly elected to represent but they are actually revolting against the system. My Rep. was probabaly one of the trouble makers. I should call his office and find out.

Dixie

Jim Keffer is my Representative and is at the forefront of this fiasco. He'll probably be the next speaker. His actions, though, are disappointing. I'm not saying I'm a Craddick fan, but there is business to tend to. These goons put him back into the seat knowing his record of strong-arming, and now they gripe, right at the end of the session!

May 28, 2007 10:17 AM
STATEMENT FROM SPEAKER REGARDING WALK OUT
Plans to take up significant bills today
Speaker Tom Craddick issued the following statement after last night's events:

"Once again, some members chose to divert the House away from important matters and instead tried to drag the members into a Speaker's race while we are in session. Speaker Craddick made a promise to the members of the House that he would make sure their bills would be heard so their constituents concerns would be met. This evening a number of bills were put into jeopardy - bills that would protect our water, fund our parks and historical sites, lower electric rates, enhance air quality, and require steroid testing in our public schools. It is his intention to take up and consider these and other pieces of legislation before the session ends tomorrow at midnight."



ã Copyright May 28, 2007 by Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved