Rep. Delisi: Now who'll sit with Craddick at recess?

Bad day for Speaker Tom Craddick. First Rep. Kirk England switched from R-Grand Prairie to D-Grand Prairie, citing his inability to work with the House Republican leadership: Now one of Craddick’s closest consiglieres, Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple, has announced she will not seek re-election.

The chair of the House Public Health committee has aways been one of the most loyal Craddickites, and the bane of health reformers for her cost-cutting approach. This session was particularly memorable for her killing off two drug-related bills: Senate Bill 308, the needle exchange bill championed by doctor and fellow GOPer Sen. Robert Deuell, R-Greenville, and Rep. Elliot Naishtat‘s House Bill 1534, the Austin Dem’s medipot bill. Plus, of course, those with a longer memory wil recall that she was a fundraiser for Tom Delay‘s TRMPAC, back in 2002.

This article appears in September 14 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.