This is a printer friendly version of an article from
www.goupstate.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose
Print.
Back
Article published Apr 8, 2005
House meeting centers on speaker's post
COLUMBIA --
For something that's supposedly nothing, there's much ado about it at the
Statehouse these days.The race to replace Rep. David Wilkins, R-Greenville, as
speaker of the state House has the Capitol buzzing. The only one not talking
about the possibility of Wilkins leaving to become the U.S. ambassador to Canada
is Wilkins.But with four Republican candidates trying to round up votes and
House Majority Leader Jim Merrill calling a caucus meeting to settle everyone
down, it's becoming clearer that Wilkins could soon be whistling a new tune:
"Oh, Canada!"Rep. Lanny Littlejohn, R-Pacolet, said Thursday morning's caucus
meeting went smoothly, although he didn't see a need for it."I don't see a
problem with anything that's going on," Littlejohn said.What's going on is the
four contenders -- Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg; Ways and Means
Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston; Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison,
R-Columbia; and Labor and Commerce Committee Chairman Harry Cato, R-Greenville
-- making the rounds trying to build support. Merrill said it was becoming a
distraction and called the caucus meeting -- minus the four candidates."We're
trying to pass legislation, and to have other topics being discussed is a
disruption," Merrill said. "I think things will tone down a bit now."Smith, who
has been speaker pro tem for five years, said the process is a distraction. But,
he said, it hasn't kept the House from completing its work."We're able to
conduct the people's business with no disruption," Smith said. "People are still
doing their jobs."Robert W. Dalton can be reachedat 562-7274 or
bob.dalton@shj.com.