Fewer Democrats head committees; Laney put on obscure panels

10:40 PM CST on Thursday, January 27, 2005

By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – House Speaker Tom Craddick parceled out committee assignments Thursday, stressing his role as talent scout, not peacemaker.

Mr. Craddick, R-Midland, made no symbolic overtures to Democrats and sent no messages that they're full partners in the process this session.

In the Senate, which operates in a more bipartisan fashion, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst made virtually no changes in committees' composition.

Mr. Craddick named 10 Democrats to committee chairmanships – one-fourth of the chamber's standing committees – but that was two fewer than he picked last session. He parked his predecessor, former Speaker Pete Laney, D-Hale Center, on two mostly obscure panels. And he delivered bad news to several Democrats who strongly criticized spending cuts and redistricting in 2003.

Mr. Craddick said the committee assignments were not designed to assuage Democrats and dissidents but to match skills with positions.

"We looked at the committees and who fit where and where we thought the problems were in this session. It wasn't an olive branch or any type thing like that," he said.

Those few who openly opposed his nomination for House speaker were not punished, Mr. Craddick said. "It really didn't play into it."

Mr. Craddick was asked how two such opponents, Reps. Jessica Farrar of Houston and Lon Burnam of Fort Worth – both Democrats from urban neighborhoods – ended up on the Agriculture and Livestock Committee. He said everyone has something to contribute to any topic.

"Sometimes you don't get the committee you want, but you work on it and it's all part of the process," Mr. Craddick said.

House Democratic leader Jim Dunnam of Waco said outgoing Human Services Committee Chairman Carlos Uresti "looks like he was demoted for speaking out" against cuts in indigent health coverage in 2003 and bad management at Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services.

Mr. Uresti, D-San Antonio, was replaced by Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas. He was instead given the chairmanship of the Government Reform Committee.

Mr. Craddick denied that Mr. Uresti's outspokenness on the protective agencies was a factor. Both he and Mr. Uresti said some of the CPS and APS reform bills will go to Mr. Uresti's committee as well as to Ms. Hupp's.

While he reappointed Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, who is African American, as speaker pro tempore, Mr. Craddick gave minorities eight committee chairmanships – down from 11 last time.

In the Senate, Mr. Dewhurst made no changes in committee chairmen. The 15 standing committees and three subcommittees in the Senate will have the same chairmen as last year.

Staff writers Christy Hoppe and Terrence Stutz contributed to this report.

Here's a list of the members of each of the House and Senate committees:

Chairman: Rick Hardcastle, R-Vernon

Vice chairman: Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco

Betty Brown, R-Terrell

Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth

Jessica Farrar, D-Houston

Abel Herrero, D-Robstown

Dora Olivo, D-Richmond

Chairman: Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie

Vice chairwoman: Vilma Luna, D-Corpus Christi

Leo Berman, R-Tyler

Dan Branch, R-Dallas

Betty Brown, R-Terrell

Fred Brown, R-Bryan

Warren Chisum, R-Pampa

Myra Crownover, R-Denton

John Davis, R-Houston

Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin

Al Edwards, D-Houston

Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown

Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City

Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso

Peggy Hamric, R-Houston

Glenn Hegar Jr., R-Katy

Ruben Hope Jr., R-Conroe

Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville

Carl Isett, R-Lubbock

Tracy King, D-Batesville

Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham

Armando Martinez, D-Weslaco

Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio

Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio

Aaron Pena, D-Edinburg

Joe Pickett, D-El Paso

Todd Smith, R-Euless

Vicki Truitt, R-Keller

Sylvester Turner, D-Houston

Chairwoman: Norma Chavez, D-El Paso

Vice chairman: Bob Griggs, R-North Richland Hills

Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas

Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio

Tommy Merritt, R-Longview

Joe Moreno, D-Houston

Hubert Vo, D-Houston

Chairwoman: Helen Giddings, D-Dallas

Vice chairman: Gary Elkins, R-Houston

Kevin Bailey, D-Houston

Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston

Armando Martinez, D-Weslaco

Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton

Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood

Hubert Vo, D-Houston

Bill Zedler, R-Arlington

Chairwoman: Beverly Woolley, R-Houston

Vice chairman: Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi

Bill Callegari, R-Katy

Gary Elkins, R-Houston

Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham

Vilma Luna, D-Corpus Christi

Brian McCall, R-Plano

Sid Miller, R-Stephenville

Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs

Sylvester Turner, D-Houston

Corbin Van Arsdale, R-Houston

Chairman: Joe Nixon, R-Houston

Vice chairman: Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs

Phil King, R-Weatherford

Jerry Madden, R-Richardson

Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio

Richard Raymond, D-Laredo

Mark Strama, D-Austin

Robert Talton, R-Pasadena

Beverly Woolley, R-Houston

Chairman: Jerry Madden, R-Richardson

Vice chairman: Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock

Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie

Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso

Scott Hochberg, D-Houston

Jim McReynolds, D-Lufkin

Melissa Noriega, D-Houston

Chairman: Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie

Vice chairman: Wayne Smith, R-Baytown

Carter Casteel, R-New Braunfels

Garnet Coleman, D-Houston

David Farabee, D-Wichita Falls

Pete Laney, D-Hale Center

Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin

Dora Olivo, D-Richmond

John Otto, R-Dayton

Chairman: Terry Keel, R-Austin

Vice chairwoman: Debbie Riddle, R-Houston

Mary Denny, R-Aubrey

Juan Escobar, D-Kingsville

Terri Hodge, D-Dallas

Paul Moreno, D-El Paso

Aaron Pena, D-Edinburg

Richard Raymond, D-Laredo

Elvira Reyna, R-Mesquite

Chairman: Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville

Vice chairman: Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin

Todd Baxter, R-Austin

Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin

Jim Dunnam, D-Waco

Pete Gallego, D-Alpine

Larry Phillips, R-Sherman

Chairman: Frank Corte Jr., R-San Antonio

Vice chairman: Scott Campbell, R-San Angelo

Leo Berman, R-Tyler

Abel Herrero, D-Robstown

Terri Hodge, D-Dallas

David Leibowitz, D-San Antonio

Tommy Merritt, R-Longview

Paul Moreno, D-El Paso

Melissa Noriega, D-Houston

Chairman: Allan Ritter, D-Nederland

Vice chairman: Byron Cook, R-Corsicana

Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas

Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont

Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham

Brian McCall, R-Plano

Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi

Chairwoman: Mary Denny, R-Aubrey

Vice chairman: Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston

Todd Smith, R-Euless

Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas

Charles "Doc"Anderson, R-Waco

Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola

Jesse Jones, D-Dallas

Chairman: G.E. "Buddy" West, R-Odessa

Vice chairman: David Farabee, D-Wichita Falls

Frank Corte Jr., R-San Antonio

Joe Crabb, R-Humble

Myra Crownover, R-Denton

Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, D-Alice

Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land

Chairman: Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton

Vice Chairman: Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land

Joe Driver, R-Garland

Mark Homer, D-Paris

Tracy King, D-Batesville

Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin

Wayne Smith, R-Baytown

Chairman: Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton

Vice chairman: Brian McCall, R-Plano

Norma Chavez, D-El Paso

Dan Flynn, R-Van

Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City

Rob Orr, R-Burleson

Debbie Riddle, R-Houston

Chairman: Kevin Bailey, D-Houston

Vice chairman: Ken Paxton, R-McKinney

Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston

Dan Flynn, R-Van

Terry Keel, R-Austin

Chairman: Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio

Vice chairman: John Otto, R-Dayton

Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas

Stephen Frost, D-Atlanta

Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen

Bob Hunter, R-Abilene

Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth

Chairman: Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria

Vice chairman: Tony Goolsby, R-Dallas

Fred Brown, R-Bryan

Glenda Dawson, R-Pearland

Pete Gallego, D-Alpine

Helen Giddings, D-Dallas

Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving

Jesse Jones, D-Dallas

Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs

Chairwoman: Peggy Hamric, R-Houston

Vice chairman: Leo Berman, R-Tyler

John Davis, R-Houston

Glenda Dawson, R-Pearland

Mary Denny, R-Aubrey

Helen Giddings, D-Dallas

Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola

Terry Keel, R-Austin

Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio

Aaron Pena, D-Edinburg

Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood

Chairwoman: Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas

Vice Chairman: Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands

Alma Allen, D-Houston

John Davis, R-Houston

Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, D-Alice

Toby Goodman, R-Arlington

Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin

Ken Paxton, R-McKinney

Elvira Reyna, R-Mesquite

Chairman: John Smithee, R-Amarillo

Vice chairman: Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi

Craig Eiland, D-Galveston

Carl Isett, R-Lubbock

Bill Keffer, R-Dallas

Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville

Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood

Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston

Corbin Van Arsdale, R-Houston

Chairman: Will Hartnett, R-Dallas

Vice chairman: Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola

Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville

Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas

District 121*

Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen

Terry Keel, R-Austin

Jim Solis, D-Harlingen

Corbin Van Arsdale, R-Houston

Chairman: Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston

Vice chairman: Toby Goodman, R-Arlington

Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio

Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas

Jim Dunnam, D-Waco

Joe Moreno, D-Houston

Joe Nixon, R-Houston

Mark Strama, D-Austin

Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston

Chairwoman: Anna Mowery, R-Fort Worth

Vice chairwoman: Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving

Roy Blake Jr., R-Nacogdoches

Robby Cook, D-Eagle Lake

Juan Escobar, D-Kingsville

David Leibowitz, D-San Antonio

Sid Miller, R-Stephenville

Rob Orr, R-Burleson

Joe Pickett, D-El Paso

Chairman: Joe Driver, R-Garland

Vice chairman: Jim Jackson, R-Dallas

Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth

Stephen Frost, D-Atlanta

Glenn Hegar Jr., R-Katy

Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas

Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth

Chairman: Ismael Flores, D-Mission

Vice chairman: Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth

Warren Chisum, R-Pampa

Tony Goolsby, R-Dallas

Mike Hamilton, R-Mauriceville

Mark Homer, D-Paris

Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock

Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria

Chente Quintanilla, D-Tornillo

Chairwoman: Elvira Reyna, R-Mesquite

Vice chairwoman: Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin

Todd Baxter, R-Austin

Carter Casteel, R-New Braunfels

David Farabee, D-Wichita Falls

Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving

Mark Homer, D-Paris

Ruben Hope Jr., R-Conroe

Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land

Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville

Wayne Smith, R-Baytown

Chairman: Fred Hill, R-Richardson

Vice chairman: Mike Hamilton, R-Mauriceville

Gary Elkins, R-Houston

Jodie Laubenberg, R-Wylie

Robert Puente, D-San Antonio

Chente Quintanilla, D-Tornillo

Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio

Chairman: Robert Puente, D-San Antonio

Vice chairman: Bill Callegari, R-Katy

Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton

Scott Campbell, R-San Angelo

Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth

Rick Hardcastle, R-Vernon

Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville

Ruben Hope Jr., R-Conroe

Pete Laney, D-Hale Center

Chairman: Craig Eiland, D-Galveston

Vice chairman: Dan Flynn, R-Van

District 121*

Bob Griggs, R-North Richland Hills

Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio

Mike Krusee, R-Austin

Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin

Chairman: Kent Grusendorf, R-Arlington

Vice chairman: Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville

Dan Branch, R-Dallas

Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple

Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston

Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands

Scott Hochberg, D-Houston

Bill Keffer, R-Dallas

Anna Mowery, R-Fort Worth

Chairwoman: Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple

Vice chairwoman: Jodie Laubenberg, R-Wylie

Garnet Coleman, D-Houston

Glenda Dawson, R-Pearland

Jim Jackson, R-Dallas

Jim McReynolds, D-Lufkin

Jim Solis, D-Harlingen

Vicki Truitt, R-Keller

Bill Zedler, R-Arlington

Chairman: Joe Crabb, R-Humble

Vice chairman: Robby Cook, D-Eagle Lake

Frank Corte Jr., R-San Antonio

Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont

Ismael Flores, D-Mission

Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville

Jim Jackson, R-Dallas

Phil King, R-Weatherford

Mike Krusee, R-Austin

Ruth Jones McClendon,

Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria

Rob Orr, R-Burleson

Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin

Robert Talton, R-Pasadena

G.E. "Buddy" West, R-Odessa

Chairman: Phil King, R-Weatherford

Vice chairman: Bob Hunter, R-Abilene

Todd Baxter, R-Austin

Robby Cook, D-Eagle Lake

Joe Crabb, R-Humble

Will Hartnett, R-Dallas

Sylvester Turner, D-Houston

Chairman: Al Edwards, D-Houston

Vice Chairman: Martha Wong, R-Houston

Alma Allen, D-Houston

Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco

Roy Blake Jr., R-Nacogdoches

Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands

Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen

Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola

John Otto, R-Dayton

Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth

Bill Zedler, R-Arlington

Chairman: David Swinford, R-Dumas

Vice chairman: Sid Miller, R-Stephenville

Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown

Byron Cook, R-Corsicana

Jessica Farrar, D-Houston

Jim Keffer, R-Eastland

Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio

Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio

Martha Wong, R-Houston

Chairman: Mike Krusee, R-Austin

Vice Chairman: Larry Phillips, R-Sherman

Peggy Hamric, R-Houston

Bill Callegari, R-Katy

Carter Casteel, R-New Braunfels

Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont

Ismael Flores, D-Mission

Fred Hill, R-Richardson

G.E. "Buddy" West, R-Odessa

Chairman: Robert Talton, R-Pasadena

Vice chairwoman: Martha Wong, R-Houston

Alma Allen, D-Houston

Kevin Bailey, D-Houston

Roy Blake Jr., R-Nacogdoches

Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio

Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin

Chairman: Jim Keffer, R-Eastland

Vice chairman: Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio

Al Edwards, D-Houston

Kent Grusendorf, R-Arlington

Vilma Luna, D-Corpus Christi

Ken Paxton, R-McKinney

Allan Ritter, D-Nederland

John Smithee, R-Amarillo

Beverly Woolley, R-Houston

* – Vacant seat; a special election is set for Feb. 5.

Chairman: Chris Harris, R-Arlington

Vice chairman: Juan Hinojosa, D-Mission

Kyle Janek, R-Houston

Florence Shapiro, R-Plano

Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio

Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio

John Whitmire, D-Houston

Chairman: Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay

Vice chairman: Kip Averitt, R-McGregor

Ken Armbrister, D-Victoria

Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth

John Carona, R-Dallas

Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler

Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls

Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville

Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio

Chairman: John Whitmire, D-Houston

Vice chairman: Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo

John Carona, R-Dallas

Rodney Ellis, D-Houston

Juan Hinojosa, D-Mission

Steve Ogden, R-Bryan

Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands

Chairwoman: Florence Shapiro, R-Plano

Vice Chairman: Royce West, D-Dallas

Kip Averitt, R-McGregor

Kyle Janek, R-Houston

Steve Ogden, R-Bryan

Todd Staples, R-Palestine

Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio

Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands

Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo

Chairman: Steve Ogden, R-Bryan

Vice chairwoman: Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo

Kip Averitt, R-McGregor

Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin

Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth

Robert Deuell, R-Greenville

Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock

Kyle Janek, R-Houston

Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville

Florence Shapiro, R-Plano

Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso

Todd Staples, R-Palestine

Royce West, D-Dallas

John Whitmire, D-Houston

Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands

Chairman: Rodney Ellis, D-Houston

Vice chairman: Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler

Mario Gallegos, D-Houston

Chris Harris, R-Arlington

Mike Jackson, R-La Porte

Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville

John Whitmire, D-Houston

Chairwoman: Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville

Vice chairman: Kyle Janek, R-Houston

Ken Armbrister, D-Victoria

John Carona, R-Dallas

Robert Deuell, R-Greenville

Mario Gallegos, D-Houston

Jon Lindsay, R-Houston

Royce West, D-Dallas

Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo

Chairman: Frank Madla, D-San Antonio

Vice chairman: Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth

Robert Deuell, R-Greenville

Mario Gallegos, D-Houston

Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio

Chairman: Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville

Vice chairman: Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso

John Carona, R-Dallas

Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler

Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls

Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo

Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo

Chairman: Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio

Vice chairman: Mario Gallegos, D-Houston

Kip Averitt, R-McGregor

Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock

Chris Harris, R-Arlington

Juan Hinojosa, D-Mission

Royce West, D-Dallas

Chairman: Ken Armbrister, D-Victoria

Vice chairman: Mike Jackson, R-La Porte

Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin

Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock

Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls

Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay

Juan Hinojosa, D-Mission

Jon Lindsay, R-Houston

Frank Madla, D-San Antonio

Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo

Todd Staples, R-Palestine

Chairman: Jon Lindsay, R-Houston

Vice chairman: Robert Deuell, R-Greenville

Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin

Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler

Mike Jackson, R-La Porte

Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville

Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville

Chairman: Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock

Vice chairman: Tommy Willliams, R-The Woodlands

Ken Armbrister, D-Victoria

Rodney Ellis, D-Houston

Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay

Chris Harris, R-Arlington

Mike Jackson, R-La Porte

Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville

Frank Madla, D-San Antonio

Chairman: Todd Staples, R-Palestine

Vice chairman: Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin

Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth

Rodney Ellis, D-Houston

Jon Lindsay, R-Houston

Frank Madla, D-San Antonio

Florence Shapiro, R-Plano

Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso

Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio

Chairwoman: Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio

Vice chairman: Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls

Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay

Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo

Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso

E-mail rtgarrett@dallasnews.com