Special Subcommittee Appointed on Ghost Workers
The "ghost worker" scandal at the Capitol keeps on giving. (The scandal's name refers to the practice of listing state workers as full-time employees even though they might work just a few hours and make a few hundred bucks a month, so that those people can receive full state benefits.)
Civil Practices Commitee Chair Byron Cook this morning appointed a special subcommittee to explore employment law as it relates to the house and house rules.
State Rep Mark Strama, D-Austin, was appointed to chair the special subcommittee. State Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Richardson, asked to be removed from the committee on the grounds that he's not a lawyer. State Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, and State Rep Phil King, R-Weatherford are taking Madden's place on the subcommittee. State Rep. Robert "Point-of-Order" Talton, R-Pasadena, was also appointed.
This issue is a flareup of the ongoing fight over House Speaker Tom Craddick, as Craddick opponents accuse him of leaking the story to publicly punish his political enemies. But even Craddick allies got hit by the birdshot -- as State Rep. Tony Goolsby, R-Dallas, was discovered having a ghost worker on staff.
Here's a link to the Civil Practices committee hearing going on live right now, but it's not archived yet so we can't go back and watch the minor fireworks from the beginning.
Look at this - incumbents campaigning against fellow incumbents...
http://elemming2.blogspot.com/2008/05/john-sharp-senfronia-thompson-and.html