Hill's 'Leadership' Hurts
Taxpayers
For Texas taxpayers, the
record of State Rep. Fred Hill (R-Richardson)
adds up to higher taxes. The Dallas Morning
News is reporting in today's edition that
residents in Mr. Hill's home county of Dallas
had a "sharp increase" in property tax
appraisals - some 20 percent on average. As a
result, property owners there are paying an
additional $18.4 million in taxes.
Statehouse Row Over Craddick
Continues
Texas lawmakers wrangled
for control of the Texas House Saturday, as
rebels desperately quoted from the chamber's
rules and the state constitution in a renewed
effort to oust Speaker Tom Craddick.
The Following is Being Entered Into the
House Journal
by Speaker Tom
Craddick
The office of Speaker of the
Texas House of Representatives is the only
constitutionally-mandated officer of the
Texas House by virtue of Article 3, Section 9
of the Texas Constitution. All other
officers of the House, including committee
chairs, are chosen by rule.
Craddick Opponents Walk
Out
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.
Craddick Stays in
Power
Leaders of the movement to
oust House Speaker Tom Craddick during the
legislative session declared defeat late
Sunday, saying that while they could not get
past his absolutist rulings on his own
powers, the race to be House speaker in 2009
has already begun.
House Works Through Tension
A
turbulent House settled into an uneasy truce
for the last day of a stormy session Monday,
still smarting over the extraordinary drama
involving the fate of Speaker Tom Craddick.
Senate Freshmen Were Seen and Heard This
Session
Leave it to Sen. Dan
Patrick to speak for the accomplishments of
five new state senators as they complete
their first legislative session - whether
they want him to or not.
Democratic Ally Running Against
Craddick
Even as House Speaker Tom
Craddick's supporters rushed to start
patching up his bid for re-election to the
chair in two years, the embattled speaker
drew his seventh challenger Wednesday -
Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner of Houston,
one of Mr. Craddick's closest allies.
Dewhurst Sees Voter ID Defeat as Missed
Opportunity
Lt. Gov. David
Dewhurst declared the recently ended
legislative session a success, but also said
Wednesday he regrets the failure of a voter
identification bill that split his chamber
along partisan lines.
Large GOP Field May Be Eyeing District
22 Seat
U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson
flirted with running for the U.S. Senate
against incumbent John Cornyn but declared
this week that he will run for re-election to
his Congressional District 22 seat.
