Craddick nemesis gets last laugh
January 12, 2009
Haggerty and a dozen other GOP lawmakers got tired of Craddick's tactics and eventually turned against the speaker. Haggerty was particularly upset when Craddick's people tried to pressure him on a school finance bill several years ago. Haggerty says they told him he had "no choice" but to go with the speaker. If not, there would be political consequences they reminded him.
Written by Gary Scharrer, The San Antonio Express News
Pat Haggerty
Retiring state legislator Pat Haggerty is in a good mood these days - even though a defeat in last spring's Republican primary ended his 20-year career in the Texas House.
Haggerty took on Speaker Tom Craddick two years ago, leading a rump roll call of sorts to gauge House support for the controversial Craddick after the speaker refused to recognize any motion calling for his ouster. Craddick claimed absolute authority as the basis for denying such a motion.
In a late-night personal privilege speech, Haggerty, of El Paso, urged members to take the key out of their House floor desks and follow him out of the chamber when he was prohibited from continuing his roll call vote to see if members supported or opposed Craddick.
Craddick later helped Republicans defeat Haggerty in a bitter primary contest.
Haggerty decided to open a lobby business. But the word circulating in Austin was that Craddick warned companies not to hire Haggerty. Haggerty says he was placed on the "do not call" list.
And then Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, emerged as a new face, attracting enough support to replace Craddick when lawmakers elect a House speaker tomorrow.
Straus first met Haggerty in 1982 when Straus, a recent college graduate, served as an advance man for Vice President George H. Bush for various congressional campaigns. Straus set up Bush events in Pecos and El Paso for Haggerty, who was running for an open congressional seat.
Haggerty and a dozen other GOP lawmakers got tired of Craddick's tactics and eventually turned against the speaker. Haggerty was particularly upset when Craddick's people tried to pressure him on a school finance bill several years ago. Haggerty says they told him he had "no choice" but to go with the speaker. If not, there would be political consequences they reminded him.
Haggerty couldn't stay with the speaker, though, because doing so would have harmed the schools in Haggerty's property poor district. So Republicans challenged Haggerty in 2006 - nearly defeating him in the GOP primary. They knocked him out two years later.
And a young Democrat then defeated the GOP nominee in the November election.
Grinning, Haggerty says his close relationship with the new, incoming speaker will put him on "the must call" list for anyone seeking a lobbyist that can get things done.
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