Craddick called to step down:GOP committee chair urges him to avoid '18 months of hell' in Legislatu

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Houston Chronicle

May 22, 2007, 1:10AM
Craddick called to step down
GOP committee chair urges him to avoid '18 months of hell' in Legislature


By PEGGY FIKAC and CLAY ROBISON
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — A Republican committee chairman Monday night called on Speaker Tom Craddick to resign and end the prospect of a bloodbath over the future House leadership.

Rep. Byron Cook of Corsicana, named Civil Practices chairman by Craddick, also deplored the "consolidation of money, power and influence" that critics have associated with Craddick's leadership, but didn't move for the speaker to be unseated.

"Mr. Speaker, please consider stepping down. Please don't put this body through 18 months of hell," Cook said, referring to the period before the next regular session convenes in January 2009 and the political jockeying accompanying a speaker's race. Cook has been mentioned as a potential contender for speaker.

There was no immediate response from Craddick, who took the gavel back and continued presiding over the House. Last week, he said he will seek a fourth term in 2009.






Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4824297.html

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http://www.fortworthchamber.com.nyud.net:8090/images/chamberletter/NOV_Craddick.jpg

[Catch22Dem]

1. So what's the back story?

I read the article, but it doesn't tell why this guy is hated so much. I must admit, I don't know anything about it.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Hoping some Texas DU'ers will have the time to share the Craddick story. Here's a quick look,

from an article I just grabbed:

February 27, 2004 — Features
Scandal in the Speaker's Office

A campaign finance scandal threatens to swallow Tom Craddick

BY JAKE BERNSTEIN AND DAVE MANN



For Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland), November 7, 2002 must have been one of the happiest days of his life. Not 48 hours earlier, Republicans had romped to a landslide electoral victory across the state, winning 88 seats in the Texas House. For the first time in 130 years, Republicans would be a majority in the state Legislature. Craddick, who had won his first election at age 25, was the House’s longest serving Republican. He had spent many of his 34 years in the Texas House shunted to the legislative sidelines in a lonely minority. But as the GOP rose in Texas, so did Craddick’s fortunes. For the previous eight years, he had struggled to win the coveted leadership role of speaker of the House, helping to engineer three Republican swipes at capturing the majority. Each had failed.

Now, on this Thursday, which also happened to be his late father’s birthday, a press conference had been called for a momentous announcement: Craddick had collected enough pledges from his fellow House members to be named speaker—the most powerful state official not elected statewide.

Republican partisans, members of the media, and the Capitol curious packed into the speaker’s committee room behind the House chamber to hear the news. A spokesman for Farmers Insurance, who insisted he was there just as a friend of Craddick’s, handed out media packets to reporters. When the 59-year-old Craddick entered the room, the crowd burst into applause. And Tom Craddick, a man known for his wry sense of humor and understated delivery, broke into a wide lopsided grin.

As the Observer goes to press, Speaker Craddick has recently hired one of the state’s finest criminal defense attorneys to help him respond to a subpoena from a Travis County grand jury investigating the 2002 election. In what has the potential to be the biggest legislative scandal since 1971, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is investigating an allegedly wide-ranging conspiracy to funnel illegal corporate money into legislative elections. As the Observer chronicled last August <“Rise of the Machine,” Aug. 29, 2003>, the Texas Association of Business and the Tom DeLay-created Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee used about $2.5 million in corporate cash to help elect a handpicked Republican majority that would crown Craddick speaker. New evidence now makes clear that Craddick was a central figure in those efforts, and raises the possibility that the Midland Republican broke the law to obtain his long-sought victory.

The invitation to the press conference told the story. Addressed to “interested parties,” it asked recipients to “please join us for a press conference with State Representative Tom Craddick.”

But the more telling phrase on the invitation could be found at the bottom: “Paid for by Texans for a Republican Majority.”
(snip/...)

http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=1575

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I do know, when I have glanced at the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas News, that Craddick raised a lot of eyebrows when he decided to redecorate the Speaker's apartment in Austin, and collected around $1,000,000.00 from LOBBYISTS to get the job done, which featured upgrades which drove some people around the bend, like two toilets at $1,000.00 each, and a ton of luxuries not really expected in a government space like that. He got the money from his lobbyist cronies, whereas in all other similar cases in the past, the Speaker has settled for modest changes, and asked the State for the money.

Sorry I don't know more at the moment, but I don't know too much about Texas (other than not to mess with Texas!). Maybe someone will fill in some blanks here.

On edit:

Just found a short list of some of the "improvements" to the Speaker's apartment:

•A $1,500 Whirlpool Duet washing machine touted as “designed for those who demand the finer things in life.”
•A matching dryer at $850.
•A $14,700 range and $7,000 Sub-Zero freezer.
•A $1,300 custom glass shower door.
•A $1,500 bathtub.
•Two $1,000 toilets.

http://capitolannex.com/2006/07/19/tom-craddicks-1000-toilet/

http://www.worldofkitsch.com.nyud.net:8090/objects/images/home_bathroom_toilet.jpg

image found under Craddick toilet in google images

[Kagemusha]

3. Basically one corrupt congressman resigned, another replaced him

Craddick would be the replacement.

[AnneD]

4. The back story is that...

the speaker of the House has more power than the Governor. Gov Good hair won with barely over 32%.

Craddick ran roughshod over a lot of folks in recent sessions. He was challenged in a vote and won-but those who challenged him are persona non gratas.

Most of the Reps know that the public is on to the GOP corruption shenanigans (selling tollways, making tollways, selling the lottery, underfunding the TRS, forcing the TRS to invest in risky start ups))and even with redrawn districts-some GOP candidates lost to DEMS-a very bad sign. If it hadn't been a 4 way race-Perry would have lost too.

Frankly, if I could give Craddick some advice, it would be from the great bard.
'Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights;
Yond' Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. (1.2.192)'
He is running out of fat men.

One Dem legislator with a liver transplant, is there voting even though his transplant is being rejected. A GOP Doc had a hospital bed installed in the chamber so the poor guy could vote. It is getting that serious. It's hammer time here-and Craddick is on the list to get smushed and Perry is soon to be rendered impotent. Even though the GOP has the votes-they are becoming friendly to the DEM's because the tide may turn and this is not the time to lord over folks that may one day be over you.

[NoPasaran]

5. A little background for non-Texans

The Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor, who presides over the State Senate are the two most powerful officials in the state; far more than the governor, which helps to explain why a total nitwit like GWB could serve in that office. Unlike the Lt Governor, who is elected by the voters statewide the Speaker is chosen by the members of the house. Once elected, the speaker wields enormous power, including naming the members and chairs of committees. So rebellions against the chair are not undertaken lightly!

Craddick became the first repub speaker since Reconstruction in 2002 when the GOP won a majority in the House following a lot of Rove/DeLay money being shoveled into targeted races. And Craddick repaid the favor by pushing through DeLay's redistricting of Texas's congressional districts, even though it took a couple of special sessions.

Since then, though, there has been growing dissatisfaction with Craddick's autocratic rule, extending to some republican members. In many cases GOP members have been strong-armed to voting with the speaker and against their district on contentious issues, with the threat of facing a well-financed primary opponent if they step out of line.

There was already an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Craddick at the start of the session in January. Now, as the clock ticks down, a new insurgency has arisen, with three declared candidates for speaker and rumors of a motion to vacate to chair in this, the final week. One charge members have been leveling against Craddick recently is the accusation that he has been stalling the state budget, trying to force members to pledge their loyalty to elect him to a fourth term or lose funding for projects in their districts.

[boot@9]

6. craddick is...

more crooked than a snake and a hell of a lot meaner. His oil field "mud" business has made him a multi millionaire as almost all the oil companies use his company(suprise,suprise). In the past he has used a lobbyist friend to get him and his family a personal audience with the pope. He has retaliated against a fellow R from Odessa who had the nerve to vote against him.He has tried to destroy any legislator,D or R, who has not followed his commands. Apparently many on both sides have had enough and are willing to step forward and take their shot(they better not miss). No matter the outcome craddick is mortally wounded and it remains to be seen how long he will last.
From my perspective the sooner the better!