Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Tuesday, Aug. 22,1983
Murphy claims speakership; Barker irked
Barker and Rep. David Riggs, D-Sand Springs, are considered the leading contenders in the speaker race.
Barker said he planned to ask Gov. George Nigh to call a special session to elect a new speaker.
If Nigh refuses, he said he believes he can get a minimum of 45 House members to force a caucus so Democrats can nominate a speaker.
Riggs was unavailable for comment. His law office in Tulsa said he was in Oklahoma City, but efforts to reach him at his legislative office were unsuccessful Monday.
Murphy and Barker had differing views on a House rule that provides for the speaker pro tempore to “perform all the duties of the speaker in his absence.”
Barker maintained there is not an “absence “ of the speaker, but a void in the office was crated with the conviction of Draper last week in federal court in Muskogee on vote fraud charges. Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon also was convicted in the case.
Murphy said he would like to serve as speaker during the summer and fall interim and the 1984 session, but wouldn’t run for the job after that.
“We have a very difficult session coming up and I would rather not see a speaker’s race and the changes in committee assignments and chairmanships that could result in the middle of the 39th session,” he said.
He said he would not make any major changes in committee chairmanships.
Barker also traded charges with Rep. Robert Henry, caucus chairman. At one point, he said Henry, a Shawnee Democrat and a supporter of Riggs, “was in on conversations” in which Murphy’s elevation to speaker was discussed.
Henry said he attended such a meeting, but left before it was over and was not aware of Murphy’s plans.
“I am very much surprised to hear Mr. Barker make a statement that intimates I have taken this stand,” he said.
He said he has yet to receive a request from Barker for a caucus, but expected one would be called soon.
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