Lawmaker says his vote was coerced (Tommy Merritt-Longview)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/rssstory.mpl/metropolitan/3135400

AUSTIN - A Republican lawmaker says Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff urged him last year to support House Speaker Tom Craddick in the speaker's election.

State law prohibits people outside the House of Representatives from influencing a speaker's race. The speaker is chosen by the 150 members of the House.

Prosecutors have for months been looking at the February 2004 meeting between then-Chief of Staff Mike Toomey and Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, the Austin American-Statesman reported. They are also looking at Toomey's role in the 2002 elections, when he was still a lobbyist helping to orchestrate political attack ads by anonymous corporations.

Toomey, who has returned to lobbying after nearly two years as Perry's chief of staff, did not return calls Thursday. Perry spokesman Robert Black denied that Toomey asked Merritt to pledge his support to Craddick.

......

This is just another example. I hope that the arrogance of the GOP catches up with them.

And see who lies again. My bet is on Mike Toomey lying, but not that he'll ever have to testify or get any kind of punishment for it. Toomey is a lot like DeLay, the ethics of a walnut, like Molly Ivins likes to say. He's lied so much he believes his own lies.

Looks like Merritt is paying back Rick Petty for his Americans for Job Security attack ads last year, and his little dog toomey too.
:evilgrin:

Sonia