Posted 9:37 pm Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Crowd Of Candidates Challenging Craddick
The race for Texas House Speaker is more than just an Austin drama. It has broad implications for the state and its future.
So far, nine state representatives have announced intentions to challenge Speaker Tom Craddick, a Republican from Midland.
So far, nine state representatives have announced intentions to challenge Speaker Tom Craddick, a Republican from Midland.
The challengers include Pete Gallego, D-Alpine; Scott Hochberg, D-Houston; Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock; Jim Keffer, R-Eastland; Tommy Merritt, R-Longview; Allan Ritter, D-Nederland; Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston; Burt Solomons, R-Carollton; and Sylvester Turner, D-Houston.
As the national economic forecast continues to cloud, Texans must ensure that the Legislature focuses on fiscally conservative policies, according to Texans for Fiscal Accountability.
“Whoever leads the Texas House must be committed to spending restraint, low taxes, property tax reform and a competitive business environment,” said TFA president Michael Quinn Sullivan.
“Property taxes in Texas are overwhelming our families and adding heavily to the pocketbook concerns that most of us have,” said Sullivan. “Texas families need the Texas Legislature focused on reining in the out-of-control property tax system, protecting our job-growth climate, and ensuring that state government does no damage to our economy.”
Sullivan noted that while the Texas House speaker doesn’t have the same powers as the federal equivalent, lawmakers’ choice for speaker will have a significant influence on the state.
“It seems like pretty soon there will be more House members declared for the speakership than not, so we felt it was important to see where all of these men and women stood in relationship to each other on the Fiscal Responsibility Index,” said Sullivan, referring to the organization’s rating of lawmakers on key votes.
As speaker, Craddick holds to the tradition that he not vote except to break a tie.
“But I think most of us are familiar with Speaker Craddick’s tenure and record — the strengths and weaknesses,” Sullivan says. “We thought it worthwhile to re-release our fiscal rating index from the previous session in the hopes that Legislators will encourage every speaker candidate to commit to redoubling efforts to sustain and promote fiscally sound policy and maintain as their foremost consideration the wise stewardship of the taxpayers’ resources.”
The average score of the nine declared opponents to Craddick was a 44.16 percent, while the House average score was 53.40 percent. Overall, House Republicans averaged a 75.01 percent and Democrats a 31.74 percent.
The highest scores were awarded to challengers Ritter, the Nederland Democrat, and Solomons, the Carollton Republican. Each had a score of 64.29 percent.
The lowest scores went to Hochberg with 28.57 percent and Thompson with 26.67 percent. Both are Houston Democrats.
“We look forward to working with all lawmakers in crafting and promoting fiscally responsible legislation,” said Sullivan. “We will do our part to keep their constituents informed and active during and after the legislative session.”
House members will vote on their choice for speaker soon after the session convenes in January.
“Property taxes in Texas are overwhelming our families and adding heavily to the pocketbook concerns that most of us have,” said Sullivan. “Texas families need the Texas Legislature focused on reining in the out-of-control property tax system, protecting our job-growth climate, and ensuring that state government does no damage to our economy.”
Sullivan noted that while the Texas House speaker doesn’t have the same powers as the federal equivalent, lawmakers’ choice for speaker will have a significant influence on the state.
“It seems like pretty soon there will be more House members declared for the speakership than not, so we felt it was important to see where all of these men and women stood in relationship to each other on the Fiscal Responsibility Index,” said Sullivan, referring to the organization’s rating of lawmakers on key votes.
As speaker, Craddick holds to the tradition that he not vote except to break a tie.
“But I think most of us are familiar with Speaker Craddick’s tenure and record — the strengths and weaknesses,” Sullivan says. “We thought it worthwhile to re-release our fiscal rating index from the previous session in the hopes that Legislators will encourage every speaker candidate to commit to redoubling efforts to sustain and promote fiscally sound policy and maintain as their foremost consideration the wise stewardship of the taxpayers’ resources.”
The average score of the nine declared opponents to Craddick was a 44.16 percent, while the House average score was 53.40 percent. Overall, House Republicans averaged a 75.01 percent and Democrats a 31.74 percent.
The highest scores were awarded to challengers Ritter, the Nederland Democrat, and Solomons, the Carollton Republican. Each had a score of 64.29 percent.
The lowest scores went to Hochberg with 28.57 percent and Thompson with 26.67 percent. Both are Houston Democrats.
“We look forward to working with all lawmakers in crafting and promoting fiscally responsible legislation,” said Sullivan. “We will do our part to keep their constituents informed and active during and after the legislative session.”
House members will vote on their choice for speaker soon after the session convenes in January.
