Posted on 01/30/2003 4:50:23 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj
Thursday, January 30, 2003 7:40PM EST
N.C. House adjournes without deal
By SCOTT MOONEYHAM
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The state House was unable to agree on a speaker to lead it for a second straight day on Thursday, although a deal to share power between Republicans and Democrats appeared near. The House adjourned for the weekend without a final deal, but both sides in the evenly-split chamber had agreed to talks that could lead to a co-speakership. "There could be a coalition that will work together for the best interests of the state. That certainly is my interest," said Rep. George Holmes, R-Yadkin, a Republican nominee for the post.
But for the arrangement to work, the parties would have to cooperate, Holmes said.
"If one side or the other wants to be deceptive, that could be a disaster also," he said.
Incumbent speaker Jim Black said he didn't particularly like the idea of a co-speakers, but that it now appeared likely to happen.
"Frankly I think somebody should be in charge," Black said after the adjournment.
But "it seemed that we needed to talk about something else," he said after six unsuccessful votes in which no one was able to receive the majority needed to assume the post.
Black said details needed to be hashed out over the weekend before any deal is finalized.
"I'm going to make sure we don't make decisions too quickly," he said.
Co-speakerships are unusual but not unprecedented. At least four states have used co-speakerships in running chambers since 1978, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Most recently, Washington did so from 1999-2001.
Black went into the day's session looking like he might win a third term in the job after falling just one vote short of a majority during each of the five separate ballots Wednesday.
When legislators arrived for their floor meeting, Republican Rep. Cary Allred of Alamance County was absent. With Democrats united behind Black, he could have received the 60-vote majority of those present to assume the post.
But Republicans were able to mount procedural delays until Allred showed up more than an hour after the day's session began.
For a sixth straight ballot, Black; Rep. George Holmes, R-Yadkin; and Rep. Richard Morgan, R-Moore, split the votes needed to win the post.
Black had met with Allred after five unsuccessful votes Wednesday, and his absence was seen by many legislators as premeditated to allow Black to receive the vote.
When he arrived, Allred soon left the chamber but was cajoled back by Republicans.
"You've got to hang with us," Rep. Ed McMahan, R-Mecklenburg, said as Rep. Connie Wilson, R-Mecklenburg, pushed him back inside.
Telephone calls from constituents and traffic delays led to his tardiness, Allred explained.
"I had to listen to my constituents," he said.
The unsuccessful ballots Wednesday were believed to be the first time in the state's history that the House was unable to select a speaker on the first day of the legislative session. House members required five ballots to select a speaker in 1866, the last time the selection process was as close to a stalemate, legislative researchers said.
The stalemate also led to talks between Holmes and Rep. Martin Nesbitt, a Buncombe County Democrat, about a possible co-speakership arrangement.
Nesbitt is part of a faction of five Democrats who worked against Black the last two years. It was unclear whether Black could keep their support as negotiations continued.
Not all House members looked forward to the prospect of a power-sharing deal.
"I don't see how it will work. You look at all the major businesses in the country, the hospitals, the institutions _ they all have one chief," said Rep. Gordon Allen, D-Person. "Our governmental system is the most successful in the world. We don't have co-presidents."
The House speaker is one of the most powerful political figures in the state, controlling the movement of legislation that moves through the chamber and its committee assignments.
Because of that power, many of the campaign contributions that go to House members in his or her party flow through the speaker's campaign committee.
MKM
MKM
House Adjourns For Weekend Without Speaker, Could Settle For Co-Speakersfrom
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The state House couldn't agree on a speaker for the second straight day, but a deal to share power between Republicans and Democrats appears near.
The House adjourned for the weekend without a final deal. But both sides in the evenly-split chamber had agreed to talks that could lead to a co-speakership.
Incumbent speaker Jim Black said he doesn't particularly like the idea, but that it now appears likely to happen.
Ya know, Jim still doesn't seem to get it. Because of his poor leadership, the Dems lost control of the House. Sorry Jim, that's life in the big city.
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