The Speaker speaks
Remember how last month state Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, one of the insurgents against House Speaker Tom Craddick, asked the Texas Attorney General to weigh in on whether the House members can kick out their leader during the session?
Today, Craddick responded to that request. His attorneys filed a brief that essentially says the AG should not rule on the issue because doing so would violate the separation of powers between the branches of state government. But if the AG does rule on the matter, the brief says, the only possible conclusion is that Craddick's ruling was right.
If you need a reminder: Insurgents wanted to make a motion to kick Craddick out of the speaker's chair. He declined to recognize that motion and ruled that he had absolute authority to recognize legislators and that his rulings were unappealable.
I'm uploading Craddick's brief and supporting letters from newly appointed parliamentarian and former-state Rep. Terry Keel and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum.
Download 72007_file_stamped_brief_of_speaker_tom_craddick.PDF
Download 07202007_keel_letter.pdf
Download 07202007_chisum_letter.pdf
"Insurgents?" Is that what Republican politicians are calling themselves in Texas these days?
To my thinking, the whole "unappealable" lot should be kicked out (beginning with the Texas governor) on the next elections. That would be an improvement for the State of Texas.
Don't ya'll agree?
Posted by: Fermin-Fermon Torres | July 21, 2007 at 06:02 PM