January 22, 2001
About this new series
___In this issue, the Baptist Standard launches a new monthly feature called "Deep in the Heart of Texans." Each installment will profile a prominent Texan or native Texan. Some will be overtly religious figures, while others will not. The goal of the series is to explore how faith shapes the life and work of high-profile individuals.
___The Standard does not hold up any of these individuals as perfect models of Christianity, and no doubt some readers will question the reason certain individuals are featured. Over time, the series will feature a balance of viewpoints. Readers should see each individual featured as representative of our shared human condition--sinners in need of God's aid and redemption. By sharing our common stories, the Standard aims to inspire all readers.
Pete Laney seeks bipartisan cooperation
PETE LANEY
___Since 1993, Pete Laney has been speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. A Democrat, he worked cordially and constructively with Republican Gov. George W. Bush in what some have hailed as a model of bipartisanship. His youngest son, J Pete Laney, is a law student at Baylor University. The speaker also was given an honorary doctorate by Wayland Baptist University, among many other honors that have come his way.
___Q. Your name is James Earl Laney. Why "Pete"?
___A. My father was G.F. Laney, and he disliked using initials for names. He started calling me Pete to differentiate me from my grandfather, Jubal Earl, and by the time I got to high school I was just "Pete."
___Q. How does it feel to be the most powerful person in Texas?
___A. I think that is somebody's connotation for the office more than for the person. The constitution empowers the two presiding officers (the speaker of the House and the lieutenant governor, who presides over the Senate). But I think that may be an overstatement by some people as to how powerful it is. You are able to do things in positions of trust when you work hard. I think that is what makes the perception of any job; it's how hard you work.
___Q. Because of your introduction of President-elect George W. Bush to a national television audience on the night the election was settled, people all over _the nation now know who you are. How has that affected you?
___A. I've heard from a lot of people I didn't know where they were. I got a note from the preacher who married my wife and me 38 years ago. He lives in Missouri. I had lost track of him. It (the introduction) was something that you've got to be humbled by, because you are one of only 43 persons in the history of the country to be given the opportunity to first introduce the new president of the United States. But as far as changing anything, I don't think it's changed much.
___Q. What are you trying to accomplish as a legislator from Hale Center and as speaker of the House?
___A. The speaker's office is a unique situation. I represent a district in the Panhandle, but I also am elected by the other 149 House members, which, in essence, gives me a statewide constituency. I probably perceive the office a little differently than my predecessors. The main purpose of this office is to make sure that all members have access to the system so they can represent their districts to the best of their abilities. I can't make them represent their districts, but I can make things available to them if their desire is to do what they were elected to do.
___Q. Do you have any specific goals for this session?
___A. There are some things I would like to see the membership pass. We have to deal with the high cost of campaigns. One solution might be to set the primary dates closer to the election to cut down the campaign time. That would cut down on the cost of the campaign. Education is always a very important part of our legislative process. That's where most of the money goes. Both higher and public education will be real focal points this time. Water will be a big issue. The droughts have helped bring that to light. Those of us from the Panhandle and West Texas have understood the water problems for years and the value of water. We may not have a shortage of water, but it is not properly distributed around the state.
___Q. Your years as speaker have been characterized by bipartisanship. What is the key to getting Republicans and Democrats to cooperate?
___A. I don't think there is a problem with getting Democrats and Republicans to work together who put the state of Texas first. There are individuals who would very much like for it to be a partisan process. Usually, it comes from those with single interests, those who say that unless you agree with me 100 percent of the time you are wrong--that though you may agree with me 99 percent of the time, if you disagree with me 1 percent of the time you are an evil person. Those are the individuals who try to make it hard.
___Q. What was it like growing up in Hale Center?
___A. I live about 200 yards from the first house I ever lived in and about a mile and half from where my great-grandfather came in 1905, southwest of a town of 2,000, Hale Center. I am not a city boy.
___Q. What were your primary interests as a youth?
___A. Just like any other boy growing up in West Texas--sports, cars, motorcycles and girls. In that order--for a while.
___Q. How did you meet your wife, Nelda?
___A. We grew up about 14 miles apart, but I didn't meet her until I went to college at Texas Tech. My meeting her was actually the result of a wager with my roommate. We were sitting at a basketball game, and I commented on 'that good looking girl.' My roommate said he would bet me I couldn't get a date with her. ... She lived in the dormitory, and there was one telephone. I called and stayed on the phone until she came in that night. I asked her out, she accepted; and a year and a half later we were married.
___Q. When did you first consider a legislative career?
___A. I don't really know how that happened. Ralph Wayne, who had this seat in the legislature, was retiring. He was a good friend and encouraged me (to seek the office). Bill Clayton (former speaker) encouraged me. There was a redistricting bill that year. I had no desire to run, but it just takes two or three to encourage you and 10,000 to keep you from it. ... I found that two districts had been combined after I had decided to run, and I didn't realize the significance of it. I ran against the guy who was chair of the redistricting committee and won. But he and I became good friends on the campaign trail, and he later was re-elected and now he is chairman of redistricting, Delwin Jones. With the tone of the election process today, that would be a real rarity.
___Q. Is it difficult to juggle your agricultural and other business interests with a legislative career and family demands all at the same time?
___A. This job takes as much time as you'll let it. It takes 110 percent of the time, anyway, and 200 percent of the time, if you let it. It's difficult to do the kind of job in personal business that I was doing before. I used to farm a lot more land.
___Q. Who are your heroes?
___A. Besides my parents, the individuals I probably have the most memories of are my grandparents on my Dad's side. My grandmother took care of me, and my grandfather instilled in me my respect for the political process. Although he never held public office, in his 87 years he never missed a vote that I know of. He had to borrow the money to pay his poll tax, but he was very instrumental in getting me aware of the fact that being a politician was not necessarily a bad thing, that being involved in the political process was something you should be doing, whether it was helping get somebody else elected or running for office yourself.
___Q. What role has Christian faith played in your life?
___A. I think this is a job you can't do by yourself. Just like any other, if you try to do it by yourself, the burden would get pretty heavy. Your faith makes sure you pretty well know you are doing right.
___Q. Does your faith influence the decisions you make?
___A. I don't think there is any question that your faith and the teachings you have been taught have an impact on the decisions you make. Sometimes you ask for a little guidance.
___Q. Where do you attend church?
___A. I am Church of Christ, and my wife is Methodist, so we go to the Methodist Church in Hale Center.
___Q. What would other legislators say about you?
___A. You would have to ask them, but I would hope some would say things halfway decent about me. But I read in the newspapers where there are some who are not as complimentary.
___Q. What advice would you give to young people interested in a career in politics?
___A. I would encourage anyone and everyone to get involved in some of the political process, if no more than stuffing envelopes for a campaign or expressing a viewpoint about what that person sees, or changes that person feels need to be made. ... We need good, quality, good-intentioned individuals who desire to serve the public, and that's what we do here--serve the public. Those who try to serve themselves don't last too long.
___—Interview by Toby Druin
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