Texas House Speaker's race heats up

AUSTIN - Critics of House Speaker Tom Craddick are now taking aim at one of his top lieutenants -- House Parliamentarian Terry Keel.

Three GOP representatives are calling on Keel to resign. They describe him as a biased advocate for Craddick's continued reign rather than an impartial umpire working for the entire House membership.

Keel helped save Craddick from a political coup attempt last year and will likely be at the center of a renewed fight over the speaker's job.

Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton is one several lawmakers vying to become speaker. In a letter to Keel sent late Friday, Solomons said quote: "A majority of my House colleagues agree that you have become a polarizing figure with divided loyalties, and should no longer be the House Parliamentarian. You are working for the current Speaker and not the body."

The next day, Reps. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, and Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock, joined in. They also are candidates for House speaker.

Though it involves an arcane legal process and ancient precedents, maintaining control of the rule-making infrastructure has been key to Craddick's continued reign.