Larry O’Neal’s campaign platform for House speaker

Posted by ATL Reporter on 12/20/09 • Categorized as Political

Several Capitol types have pointed us to an e-mail that state Rep. Larry O’Neal of Houston County sent to members of the House Republican caucus on Friday.

With the unspoken backing of Gov. Sonny Perdue, O’Neal must be considered the front-runner in the quick contest to replace House Speaker Glenn Richardson. A vote to pick a caucus candidate comes Thursday.

O’Neal missed the Friday gathering of the caucus due to a bout with pneumonia, but you may consider the letter below to be the platform of his candidacy.

Among its important points:

An end to the “hawk system” that allowed House leaders to pack committee meetings;

A promise not to sponsor any legislation other than the budget. He’ll ask members of his leadership circle to do the same.

An end to the speaker’s political action committee, which allowed the top leader of the House to gather up hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars, in competition with the House caucus’ own fund. The speaker’s PAC was yet another method of …