Speaker Banishes Rep. Tom Graves To Siberia For His Vote In DOT Race

(2/1/08) House Speaker Glenn Richardson stripped Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ranger, of his elite position as a House 'hawk" and booted him out of his Capitol office Friday for voting to support the re-election of DOT Chairman Mike Evans to his seat on the board.

More punishment may be in the offing for 9th District House members who voted for Evans, Clelia Davis, a spokeswoman for Richardson, said.

She said the House leadership backed Richardson in imposing discipline on the caucus.

"The Speaker made the decision and the House leadership fully supported it," she said.

The position of Hawk carries high prestige in the House. A hawk can drop in on any committee and cast a vote to help or defeat a bill for the leadership when the vote is close.

A Capitol office also is more desirable than one across the street in the Legislative Office Building, since Capitol office space is reserved for those who hold the most important positions.

Graves told Insider: "I vote my conscience and my constituents and my principles before any position. The day I cease to do that, I don't need to be in the Capitol anymore. I don't regret my decision."

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who supported Evans, told reporters during his regular weekly briefing Friday he was very pleased with the outcome of the DOT elections but troubled by reports he'd heard of payback in the House.

"It's my understanding that there has been retribution, and that's very troubling," he said.

Asked if he thought the loss might undermine Richardson's power and prestige in the chamber, he said: "I think in this business you win some and you lose some. And I don't know anything that he's won yet."

House Majority Leader Jerry Keen replied: "Lieutenant Governor Cagle is new to his position. Speaker Richardson has led the House through the Republican revolution, and because of that leadership, we accomplished tort reform, protected our children from sex offenders and tackled illegal immigration in Georgia. Speaker Richardson has been leading on trauma care, tax reform, and fixing Grady Hospital, and he has done so before anybody else took a stand. That’s leadership. That’s what’s important. The House is more concerned with policy than internal politics, and Georgia wins on those issues."