Tx Capitol Report | A view from the Texas state capitol

Lawmakers say the darndest things

It seems state Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, got some flak for comments he made in the last couple days indicating House Speaker Craddick could be down a few votes. 

He put out this press release today, trying to take it back:

"Last night, I was misquoted on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram website as saying that Speaker Craddick had 53 votes. That number is a misinterpretation of what I said, and certainly not what I intended to say. The speaker carries all the Republicans except for the ABCs, and his position remains very strong."

I'm not here to argue about whether Chisum did or did not say anything he intended or didn't intend to say to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

What I find interesting is that last sentence. It's a beautiful example of the art of putting together a string of words that form a complete sentence but that mean absolutely nothing. 

In this case, Chisum says that Craddick has the support of all the Republicans except those who don't support him.

At least it's truthful.

Morning speaker report

Here's the latest on the speaker's race from reports this morning:

Houston Chronicle: New Speaker could emerge soon

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Craddick ally says speaker down about 20 votes

Austin American-Statesman: Lawmaker wants first day split between ceremony, speaker fight

Rio Grande Guardian: Rio Grande Valley freshman legislator talks about speaker race

Chavez to Maquez: 'U R not my friend'

In tomorrow's El Paso Times, I'll have a story about the ongoing conflict between El Paso state Reps. Marisa Marquez and Norma Chavez. You can link to a teaser here. And here's the entire text message Chavez sent to Marquez last week, disinviting her to her graduation reception:

Full text message sent from state Rep. Norma Chavez to state Rep. Marisa Marquez on May 22:
“Today I walk. Today u pass the mostethics bill. U have treated me with the most calculated disrespect the entire time since yr primary election. I asked Joe to ask u to stay away. U did not. Plz co not go to my noon reception. Or I will ask u to leave. U ridiculed my education every drunk opportunity u had. U R not my friend.”

Pickett: Speaker race could be over this weekend

State Rep. Joe Pickett said today that if Republicans are able to decide on one House speaker candidate at a private meeting scheduled for Friday, the race to lead the chamber could be over this weekend.

"And that would be the best thing for everybody," Pickett said.

Republican House leaders who oppose incumbent Speaker Tom Craddick are planning to meet this Friday to try to decide which of the other GOP speaker candidates they can support. If a dozen or more Republicans align behind one candidate that all 64 "Anybody But Craddick" Democrats can also support it could spell doom for Craddick.

But that's a big if.

Craddick still maintains he has support from a majority in the House.

One of his top lieutenants, however, told the Houston Chronicle today that Craddick is short several votes and his chances for survival may depend on his opponents remaining fractured. 

Pickett agreed, saying success of the anti-Craddick movement this time could depend on what emerges from that meeting of Republican leaders Friday.

"That’s what’s going to make it a success," he said.

Another speaker candidate and a list of ABCDs

Another former GOP ally of House Speaker Tom Craddick filed paperwork this weekend to challenge the three-term leader. State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, became the 13th speaker candidate and the seventh Republican to take on Craddick.

Today, the House Democrats released their long-rumored list of 64 signatures from Democrats who have pledged not to vote for Craddick. The signatures of all five El Paso representatives are on the sheet. You can download the list here: Download HDC Release 122908.

Craddick still contends he has a majority to win re-election when the vote happens Jan. 13. 

Just doing the math in front of us, we know that 71 of the 150 House members have said 'No' to Craddick. That leaves another 79 up for grabs. 

And, of course, that math is based on the assumption that those 64 ABCDs (Anybody But Craddick Democrats) aren't going to change their minds. State Rep. Chente Quintanilla, D-El Paso, told me recently that he wouldn't rule out voting for Craddick. 

The ABC Republicans are expected to have a meeting this Friday to try to decide on a candidate to unite behind. Maybe that will provide some more clarity to this jumbled up picture.

UPDATE ON THE NUMBERS: State Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, says with the Gattis' filing, there are now 76 votes against Craddick. Here's how he gets that number:  64 Ds + 11 Rs who said they wouldn't vote for Craddick + Gattis = 76.

Merry Christmas!

I'm headed out to spend the holiday with family. Not to worry, though, Vaqueros & Wonkeros will be back with all things Speaker race and pre-legislative session on Monday. 

Happy holidays and safe travels everyone! 

Speaker scuttlebutt

A group of 11 Republicans, including some who have been on House Speaker Tom Craddick's leadership team, met yesterday and agreed not to support their colleague from Midland for another term behind the dais, according to the Quorum Report.

Add those to the 64 Democrats who have reportedly pledged not to support Craddick, and that's 75 votes, just about enough to undo the three-term speaker.

Not so fast, though, Craddick responded. His spokeswoman told QR that he has the support of a majority in the House.

We know he could have, maybe, one vote from El Paso. Maybe.

Cook: Delegation meeting was productive

El Paso's state lawmakers only disagreed with Mayor John Cook on a couple of items on the city's draft legislative agenda during a meeting today, so he considered the gathering a success.

"I was very pleased," he said.

Cook said he met today with several members of the El Paso legislative delegation _ state Rep.-elect Marisa Marquez and state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh were absent _ to discuss the city's priorities in Austin.

The only items of contention on what he said was a list too long to address in two hours were a couple of transportation items and one issue regarding property tax appraisals.

Among the city's priorities are funding for roads, mass transit, rail relocation and mental health care.

Cook said he plans to talk more with the legislators about their differences, tweak the priority list and bring it to City Council for a vote in January.

Once the House settles that pesky matter of who's in charge, Cook said, the city can begin developing a strategy to get those goals accomplished.

"Then, we can come up with a game plan," he said.

Shapleigh gives nod to UT chancellor pick

The University of Texas System Board of Regents yesterday named Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, former UT Health Sciences Center at San Antonio president, the sole finalist to lead the state's largest system of public universities.

Today, state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, in a press release, gave the incoming chancellor his seal of approval, too:

"Dr. Cigarroa is a great choice," Shapleigh said. "As a medical school president, he understands the value of education. More than any other system, the UT system must deliver value for education dollars in order for Texas to succeed. Most of the growth in Texas' college graduates will be among Hispanic students and he has a wealth of experience in providing that education."

Another one?

Washington D.C.-based Roll Call reported today that U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, former Texas attorney general, wants current Attorney General Greg Abbott to replace U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison if/when she resigns to run for governor.

The list just keeps on growing.