Conflicts between Craddick, Dewhurst foil school funding

DentonRC.com | News for Denton, Texas | AP: Texas: "One is an ambitious and polished politician with millions of Texas voters and his own future to consider. The other has reached the likely pinnacle of his political career and needs only to appease voters in his small West Texas district.

The way Texans pay their taxes could hinge on the ability of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Tom Craddick to get along. Regardless, no Texan will escape the reach of the decisions these two Republican state leaders are mulling.

Problem is, it seems both men are used to having things their way.

It became evident just how much last weekend, during the final hours of the legislative session. A stalemate between the two men stonewalled progress on a sweeping school funding and tax system overhaul.

'They get along real well, but they disagree on some things and they're strong-willed, hence they sometimes have problems,' said GOP consultant Bill Miller, who has close ties to Craddick. 'That was as tight as I've seen either of them, but tension doesn't equate to antipathy or anything other than 'I want it my way.' '"