AUSTIN – Speaker Tom Craddick overhauled the committee structure of the Texas House Thursday, with appointments that favored like-minded Republicans, supportive Democrats and an unprecedented share of political rookies. The Dallas area was well represented in key posts, as lawmakers learned their likely roles in a cash-strapped session. Mr. Craddick and the state Republican party described the appointments as fair and balanced, backing that up with statistics that suggest that the new speaker treated minorities and women at least as well as his predecessor, Rep. Pete Laney, D-Hale Center. “We looked at committees as a whole. We looked at what...
