By Laylan Copelin – Statesman.com
Published: 11-05-08
A 76-74 GOP majority as incomplete returns indicate ensures a lively speaker’s race.
And a cloud hangs over GOP Rep. Linda Harper-Brown’s 25-vote victory because several provisional ballots supposedly were disqualified.
Republicans now have lost seats in every election since their high-water mark in 2002 when Rep. Tom Craddick R-Midland was first elected speaker with 88 Republicans in the House. Tuesday night’s three-seat loss could prompt some of Craddick’s lieutenants to consider making their own run.
Craddick’s team was working the phones early Wednesday morning to shore up his support.
The House Democratic Caucus will meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday to try and unite behind a candidate.
Meanwhile Rep. Jim Keffer an Eastland Republican who abandoned Craddick last year was first out with a statement:
“The Texas House of Representatives will have a new Speaker. Bipartisanship has won a clear victory tonight in the Texas House of Representatives. I now have a consensus group of Republicans behind my candidacy for Speaker and I now plan to respectfully ask for the full support of the Texas House Democrat Caucus which is meeting tomorrow.
“My Speaker platform calls for restoring bipartisanship and parliamentarian rules to the business of the Texas House. Furthermore I will respect the right of all members to be heard from the Texas House floor and I will respect seniority requests for committee appointments. I will also sign a pledge to honor speaker term limits of no more than three terms.
Finally the Texas House belongs to all the people of Texas and their elected members; accordingly I will put an end to the practice of special interests having more access to the process than the elected membership.”
