So failed (sorry, withdrawn) speaker candidate Rep. Jim Pitts says that House Speaker Tom Craddick basically booted him off the House Appropriations committee, which he used to chair. The fact that he’s vice-chair on Government Reform is no recompense; moreover, Pitts claims the only reason he’s still on Ways and Means is because seniority meant Craddick couldn’t kick him off.

Meanwhile, Tom denies that he, as Pitts put it, “chose retaliation over reconciliation.” He says he met with Pitts, and offered him a seat, but his ex-opponent turned it down.

That doesn’t really sound, as Pitts said in his withdrawal speech leaping out of the Craddick bandwagon’s path, like the healing has begun.

This article appears in January 26 • 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.