Sources are telling the Oklahoma Political News Service tonight that with the uncertainty about who the new House speaker might be, Danny Morgan is saying he may be able to make a coalition speaker arrangement – where a small group of unsatisfied House Republicans would work out a deal with House Democrats to pool their votes together and elect either Danny or a fringe Republican as speaker. But insiders say that to even have a chance of pulling that off, House Democrats are looking to clean up their own leadership team.

As the mainstream media miraculously reported this week, the recent tax problems weren't just Republican problems. Several members of the House Democrat caucus were also listed as having issues paying their income and/or property taxes. They included Jabar Shumate of Tulsa, Ryan McMullen of Burns Flat (or of a part of El Reno that's outside his district, some say), and Richard Morrissette, Al McAffrey and Al Lindley of Oklahoma City. Several of them play important roles on the House Democrat leadership team.

Shumate, an assistant minority floor leader is one of the worst offenders. He has failed to pay his income taxes five times in nine years and McMullen recently stepped down as caucus chairman in order to devote his time to running the caucus' 2008 campaign operation. (Charlie Laster, who's been designated to take over for the term-limited Mike Morgan for Senate Democrats, has also had trouble paying his property taxes.) While there were some rumblings that Shumate might be forced to step down – Danny Morgan even said that he expected him to – little seems to have come of it yet. And there's been no word on any repercussions for the others. But an announcement may be coming soon.

Danny Morgan has spent a lot of time criticizing House Republicans for their tax troubles, but now has to deal with his own. Morgan is aware of this, and insiders say he may be looking to do something about it over the weekend because he wants to pull off a huge upset on Monday when the House votes on a new speaker. He may even be willing to skin his own and make deals with Republicans if it means he can become speaker.

OKPNS will continue to investigate.

Labels: OK House