RawHide and PinkDome get the same tip at the same time:
Rawhide: Craddick's probably going to release members from his arm twisting & tell them to vote their districts on HB3
PinkDome: rumors are that craddick is going to release R's on HB3 and let them vote their district.
PinkDome: haha, 123 jinx
Rawhide: Craddick will say he worked w/ the senate & signed off, & then 87 folks vote against the bill
PinkDome: ok, wait got another one
PinkDome: also, they may strip the finance part out of HB 2 (the tax relief), and just do their merit pay, school start date stuff....then leave a bunch of unfunded mandates for the districts to pay
Rawhide: Then another special called for Thursday.
That IS shocking. He must have an ulterior motive. So the bill can go down in flames and he doesn't get blamed? That's gotta be it.
Only problem here, Senate filibuster keeps House from having to vote on bill. So Dew and the boys (and girls) in the Senate, get blamed for killing bill. Craddick accomplishes goal...do nothing, wait for Court to decide and then blame the judges. He protects Bill Messer, Chemical Council, Buddy Jones every business and all his lobby friends that got him elected.
Edmonton dominated the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night and the 4-0 margin in Game 6 makes it hard to imagine the Oilers not hoisting hockey's Holy Grail above their heads in less than 48 hours. And it would not come as any shock to see defenseman Chris Pronger, who had another 31-minute night, take the honors for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
So Craddick is going to "allow" members of the Texas House of Representatives to vote the way that most benefits their constituents? How novel! How heroic!