Shannon Steps Down As Speaker
Oklahoma House speaker steps down from top post
By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon resigned Tuesday from one of the most powerful positions in state government to focus on his run for a U.S. Senate seat and kicked into overdrive a behind-the-scenes race to succeed him.
Shannon said on the House floor that he would resign as speaker immediately, telling his 100 colleagues it wouldn’t be fair to continue in the post while running a statewide campaign for higher office.
“I want to do the right thing, so I am today stepping down,” Shannon said in a 10-minute speech from the front of the chamber. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve alongside of you and to have your trust as speaker of the House.”
The speaker’s announcement was delayed for nearly 30 minutes while legislators bickered over, then passed, a resolution requiring the Pledge of Allegiance to be said each day on the House floor.