Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

It is clear that the lion's share of the blame for the current public school finance fiasco falls squarely on the shoulders of Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick.

By his recent words, inaction and deeds, the Midland Republican repeatedly has demonstrated that he does not have uppermost in mind what is best for Texas public schoolchildren.

Last week, he dismissively termed the special legislative session on school funding a waste of time as he urged leaders to pull the plug on the remaining two weeks.

Mr. Craddick claimed that he and his colleagues - over whom he presides as Speaker - had "worked diligently" to find a final compromise.

We must not be using the same dictionary, because ours defines diligence as "constant, careful effort" and "perseverance" - none of which could be used to describe recent regular or special legislative sessions on his watch.

Perseverance certainly doesn't mean calling it quits and going home before the job you are assigned to do is completed.

Mr. Craddick attempted to deflect some of the criticism coming his way by pointing accusatory fingers at others involved in the session. "Neither chamber has been able to pass any legislation," he said, "and it does not appear that they will. We are wasting time and money, and it is unproductive to prolong this process."

Mr. Craddick issued the statement after fellow Republicans Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst expressed determination to continue working to find a solution to the vexing school funding dilemma.

Last week, the House overwhelmingly rejected an education overhaul proposal as well as an accompanying tax bill that would have reduced school property taxes.

Here again, Mr. Craddick provided the legislative stumbling block, repeatedly saying that the House would not support a tax plan, though some representatives had been working with the governor's office to craft a more palatable tax bill.

Like Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, we are disappointed by Mr. Craddick's statement and the apparent unwillingness of the House to continue considering school reform.

And like Gov. Perry, with whom we admittedly don't always see eye to eye, we do not think "there's ever been a war won waving a white flag" and tossing in the towel as Mr. Craddick has done.

A ruling from the Texas Supreme Court is expected in the coming weeks or months on an appeal to a lower court's decision that the existing state school funding system is unconstitutional, reported The Associated Press.

Mr. Craddick said the Legislature should wait to review the court's ruling before meeting again.

Marking - i.e., actually killing - time while awaiting a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court reeks of political cowardice. Lawmakers who do not support Mr. Craddick's tactics, but who also apparently do not have the courage of their convictions, need to develop a backbone and challenge his foot-dragging.

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is a position imbued with tremendous power and influence. Mr. Craddick unquestionably exerts short-term power, but not long-term influence. It is obvious that he is not a leader and that it is time for a change. The sooner the better and before the public school funding situation gets any worse.