Me and My Shadows

Terry Keel, the new parliamentarian, and his deputy, Ron Wilson, are both former representatives – but neither is coming back to welcoming arms in the House.

Keel, who stood so close to the mic that he could be heard giving lines to Craddick like a theatrical stage prompter, already has a track record of perceived bullying on the floor and in committee. During the last regular session, the Austin GOPer tried to crowbar through legislation about lawyers for indigent defendants that would fast-track executions. When he didn't get his way, he threatened to scupper a judicial pay raise and immediately got slapped down by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston. He was also accused of trying to change the rules about the House General Investigating and Ethics Committee in an attempt to block District Attorney Ronnie Earle's prosecution of Tom DeLay.

Outside the House, he served as lawyer for former Austin Police Department Assistant Chief Jimmy Chapman, when he was accused of perjury, and APD Officer Michael Olsen, when accused of excessive force.

Wilson has got hackles up by constantly grinning during the debates – so much so that Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, pointed out his "smiling and laughing" to the camera. The Houston lawyer already had to say that he'll try to avoid conflicts of interest – especially difficult, since he's currently representing Rep. Harold Dutton on a DUI charge. In addition, it's been alleged by Reps. Paul Moreno and Garnet Coleman that he's violating Texas Ethics Committee rules and has still to hand over his full campaign accounts from when he was a state rep. Coleman has already filed two charges with TEC against Wilson, with another 15 to come.

But that's not all: Wilson, one of only two House Dems to support the DeLay-inspired redistricting, has always been a loyal Craddickite. Back in 2003, he helped shove through a bill that gave Craddick almost complete authority over stuffing the all-important budget-building House Appropriations Committee. This DINO (Democrat in name only) was also deeply pro-school voucher and pro-tort reform.

He also once offered to show his testicles to a lawyer. No, seriously.