The new speaker's appointments are drawing lots of concern at the Capitol. Insiders are questioning John Trebilcock's appointment to the energy committee, probably the most sought-after committee in all the house where oil money contributions flow.

And now, questions are coming up about Speaker Benge's appointment of Tad Jones as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee while letting Jones keep his chairmanship over the education budget committee too. People who have been around the Capitol a long time say it's the first they have ever heard of one person having two chairmanships, especially such big ones. Can one person really handle both jobs? Overseeing the details of the education budget, which is over half of the entire budget, plus staying in the loop about all the other parts of the budget as vice chairman of the A&B committee, will be a tough job.

Some Republican members, especially the freshmen and sophomores, think this was the perfect chance to let other, younger members share some responsibility and power. But the hitch is that Jones is Speaker Benge's closest friend. Some lobbyists are laughing that it was always obvious Cargill took care of his friends, but even he didn't take it to this level.

But the biggest loser in the new situation is Rep. Lee Denny. Word is some sort of arrangement had been made with her to let her be the next AB Vice Chair to keep her from running for the Senate, but Speaker Benge refused to honor the commitment. But its too late for Denney now because the former president of OSU has already entered the senate race.

Labels: OK Legislature