House elects co-speakers (NC: Black & Morgan)

The News & Observer ^ | 2-5-03 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[JohnnyZ]

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The N.C. House has elected co-speakers, Democrat Jim Black and Republican Richard Morgan, for first time in the state's history.

The week without a leader was believed to be the first time in the state's history that the House was unable to choose a speaker on the first day of the legislative session. Black, a Mecklenburg County optometrist, had been speaker for the past four years. Morgan, a Moore County businessman, served as chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee the last time Republicans controlled the House, from 1995 until 1999.

[JohnnyZ]

Hm, looks like Morgan and Black may have worked a deal in the back rooms. If Morgan hadn't been such a jerk about it we could have elected a GOP speaker, but apparently he's out for himself.

[alancarp]

bummer - was hoping for George Homes from my county (Yadkin).

[mykdsmom]

Jerry Agar just said that there may be a constitutional argument against a co-speaker? Or at least I'm pretty sure that's what he said, do you know anything about this?

MKM

[mykdsmom]

NC PING!

[F.J. Mitchell]

A jackass and an elephant yoked to the same plow. Look for lots of rows, but don't expect to see any straight ones.

[JohnnyZ]

Jim Black had been saying for a while he thinks cospeakering is unconstitutional. I think the constitution says the House will elect "a speaker", and that's the crux of it.

[JohnnyZ]

The House voted 89-31 for the power-sharing arrangement. -- From the News & Observer UPDATED article.

We've got a lot on our plates in 2004, folks, with the big four of House, Senate, Governor, and Senator. We should be able to go 4 for 4, but it won't be easy.

[AuH2ORepublican]

I'm no expert on North Carolina law, but if the state constitution says "a Speaker," that means ONE Speaker. What they could have done is what they did in New Jersey a few years ago, which is to name a guy from one party Speaker for 3 months, then the guy from the other party speaker for the next 3 months, and rotate back and forth (at least that's my recollection). That would bide them enough time until they convince a RAT to jump to the GOP to make up for the Jeffords Wannabe who made the House 50-50 in the first place.

[MAKnight]

For some reason, I think Decker was blackmailed into jumping. He can't give a cogent or even coherent reason for his defection. At least Jeffords has always been a Leftist. Decker, from what I heard, is/was a solid Conservative.

I think he was caught by the Rats with his hand in the cookie jar or with a live boy or dead girl.

[Kuksool]

I know Rep. Richard Burr is challenging Sen. John Edwards in 2004. Who is challenging Gov. Easley in 2004?

[defeat_the_dem_igods]

Who is challenging Gov. Easley in 2004?

Senator Patrick J. Ballantine (Rep)