ARLINGTON – House Speaker Tom Craddick on Tuesday urged the GOP to stand together or risk losing ground to Democrats and squandering the party's efforts over the past four years.
"A divided Republican Party is a Democratic win," Mr. Craddick told a joint meeting of the Republican Party clubs in Tarrant County.
He added that if Republicans lost control of the Legislature, it would mean a rollback of the Republican agenda, including property tax cuts, jobs and quality education.
"We have to activate that Republican base," Mr. Craddick said. "The Republican base knows what's best for this country."
Mr. Craddick, R-Midland, spoke in front of several state lawmakers and potential challengers for his job as speaker.
He received standing ovations before and after his speech, which dealt mostly with what the Legislature has accomplished during his years as speaker and what he hopes lawmakers will accomplish when they return to Austin in January 2009.
Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, is already a candidate for speaker and listened to Mr. Craddick's remarks.
"We did do all of that," Mr. Keffer said of Mr. Craddick's speech. "Too bad his management style created so many problems."
State Rep. Brian McCall of Plano, a possible contender for speaker, also attended.
Mr. Craddick said the Legislature should continue to implement property tax cuts, secure the border, develop a voter identification program and crack down on illegal immigration.
He defended his end-of-session, absolute power approach that squashed a movement to call a speaker's election.
The issue is being considered by the attorney general.
"We looked at it very hard," he said.
"It wasn't something off the hip. The issues we're down there fighting for are more important than the politics."
