Tampabay.com
SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Herald/Times Video: Rep. J.C. Planas blasts House Speaker Larry Cretul

Comparing House Speaker Larry Cretul to a dictator, a Miami state representative Wednesday filed a formal complaint alleging that his fellow Republican broke House rules by reshuffling committees without a vote of the full chamber.

Rep. J.C. Planas acknowledges that his complaint is rare, ultra-wonky and unpopular with some fellow Republicans. But he said someone needed to stand up and stop current and future leaders of the House from acting like strongmen.

"The fact that Hugo Chávez in Venezuela reshuffles the legislative deck so he can get his items passed is something that's bad enough,'' Planas said. ``But the fact that the members of a committee can be shuffled this way in Tallahassee, Florida, should be completely unacceptable.''

Cretul's spokeswoman, Jill Chamberlin, said the speaker had no comment on Planas' allegations nor his complaint. Complaint here:Download PlanasComplaint. Story here.

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