North Carolina House in Chaos ! Five Ballots - No Speaker !

Raleigh News-Observer ^ | 1/29/2003 | AMY GARDNER AND LYNN BONNER

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, part deux of the festivities resume in the morning, so we'll see if anything changes. I think it's more perilous for our side in seeing another one of those 5 apostate Republicans jumping overboard to end the "madness" (as they would term it) and vote for Black. :-(

I don't know if they'll go for a co-speakership...

[Theodore R.]

The NC House may find that it can do without a speaker. The position may be superfluous in the midst of such 50-50 divisions betwenn Carolina liberals and conservatives. Maybe the legislature will simply have to adjourn and conduct no business at all. That could in itself save NC people money!

[Centurion2000]

Disgraceful that our party can't get its act together here and elect a speaker !

If they can't have a speaker they can't get anything done. IF they can't get anything done, then no new taxes or stupid laws get passed ......

Where exactly is the down side to this again ??

[DeFault User]

Where exactly is the down side to this again ??

(Andy Griffith imitation): I been studyin' on this right much and best I can figger is that their expense accounts'll be a whole lot higher than if they was a sitting' in that fine legislature building passing laws nobody wanted or needed.

[El Whino]

Even it came as a surprise when one Democrat, Rep. Mary McAllister of Fayetteville, accidently voted with Republicans to adjourn when she meant to vote against adjournment.

She must have move here from Flori-duh.

[azhenfud]

"Maybe the legislature will simply have to adjourn and conduct no business at all. That could in itself save NC people money!"

It's a crying shame we can't reward them with commensurate compensation - er, with nothing....

[Kuksool]

Co-House Speakers and power sharing have been done before. During the 1990's, both the MI State House and the WA State House have had power sharing arrangements. I think it is the best way to end the political chaos in Carolina. But then again, having Raleigh shut down maybe a good thing. Gov. Easley won't be able to prose any more tax increases.

[ForOurFuture]

Hilarious that a state house of representatives has an even number of members

Most do. I've often pondered this eventuality.