So for those Democratic representatives who are still supporting Craddick, I ask why? You might lose your committee assignments? And this has benefited your constituents how?
Yet, there are Democratic South Texas representatives (Rep. Ismael Flores, Rep. Armando Martinez, Rep. Ryan Guillen, Rep. Aaron Pena) that are still supporting Craddick out of loyality. Granted, they could all lose their positions on the Appropriations Committee but what good has it done them so far? Craddick couldn’t find 13 million for the pharmacy school but did find it for OB-GYN residency program in Midland.
The shift will affect how the surplus gets used, whether legislators step up to water and other environmental demands, and how collegially the House operates.
It is hard to believe, with Speaker Tom Craddick’s record, that anyone, especially any Democrat, would ever consider voting for him as one of the most powerful individuals in Austin who will set the course for our state in 2007. Maybe the 84 members who have pledged to him need to remember a few things about Craddick….
In just a few short years as Speaker of the House, Craddick renovated the Speakers apartment inside the Capitol with over $700,000 in donations from lobbyists. This included $250,000 from the AT&T Foundation and $250,000 from billionaire investor Harold Simmons . The renovations included not one, but two, $1000 toilets. Most Texans spend $2000 to renovate their entire bathrooms. Craddick instead buys $2000 in toilets for his and her’s thrones. Clearly Craddick is out of step with the working class in Texas.
I’ve got nothing against Odessa or the arts. I can’t help but wonder why money couldn’t be found for a desperately needed pharmacy school for South Texas.
One of most powerful men in Austin, Craddick, R-Midland, appears to see himself accountable only to the 42,237 people who voted him into office; unfortunately, none of them live in South Texas.
“The Governor is for it, The Lt. Governor is for it, the Senate is for it and I would imagine most of the House is all for it, it’s just that one man who wields so much power is now allowing that last 13 million dollars we need to fund the school,” said Ron Garza of the Coastal Bend Pharmacy Association
“Vindictive leaders in the House cut both the El Paso medical school and a pharmacy school, and instead they substituted an OB-GYN program in Midland,” said Shapleigh. “Consistently, they have rewarded friends and punished others.”
