Democrates have enough support to oust Craddick
Texas House of Representatives Speaker Tom Craddick
AUSTIN (AP) -- House Democrats say they've lined up enough opposition to oust Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick, releasing a long list of lawmakers who say they won't vote for him "under any circumstances."
The list released Monday - and disputed by Craddick's camp - has the signatures of 64 of the 74 House Democrats. That alone isn't enough to topple Craddick, but Democrats are counting on a handful of Republicans who have said they won't support him to build a 76-vote majority to force election of a new speaker.
The speaker, one of the most powerful positions in Texas politics, sets the legislative agenda and is elected by the members of the House of Representatives.
"Today, the fact that there will be a new Speaker for the 81st Texas House of Representatives is established," the House Democratic Caucus said in a statement released by Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco.
Craddick spokeswoman Alexis DeLee called the list "inaccurate," suggesting it was old and that some of the names on it may be among those Craddick includes among his support. She would not elaborate.
"We continue to have the largest and most solid support," she said.
Craddick, the first Republican speaker since post-Civil War Reconstruction, survived an attempt to oust him in the final days of the 2007 legislative session. He has maintained that he'll have enough votes to win another two-year team when lawmakers meet again in January.
Craddick has not released a list of lawmakers pledged to support him.
The list of Democrats opposing Craddick released Monday raises the stakes.
"Their mutual trust, resolve, unity and commitment to one another is to be commended," the Democrats' statement said. It did not say which candidate the group would support for speaker.
The list does not include the names of a handful of "Craddick Ds," as the Democrats who have supported him are known, but solidarity among Democrats could make it difficult for Craddick to piece together a coalition of support.
At least 12 Republicans have announced plans to mount their own campaigns for speaker or support someone else. One of the most recent was Rep. Dan Gattis of Georgetown, who had been a Craddick loyalist.
Craddick, from Midland, is the longest-serving member in the House at 40 years. He rose to power in 2003 when Republicans won majority of the chamber for the first time in 130 years.
But the Republicans' 88-62 majority of just five years ago has dwindled to 76-74 for the 2009 session.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
