The ethics charge has not slowed down the autocratic speaker a bit.

Bill Shipp writes:

The ethics charge has not slowed down the autocratic [House Speaker Glenn Richardson] a bit. Last week, he summarily fired Rep. Mack Crawford, R-Concord, as the Appropriations Committee's subcommittee chairman on judicial agencies. Crawford's sin: failure to raise enough cash for Richardson's special campaign kitty. Richardson has ordered committee chairs to contribute up to $70,000 to his special fund - or else.