James Earl "Pete" Laney (born March 20, 1943) is a former American politician.
During his tenure, Laney was cited by Republican Governor George W. Bush, during the 2000 presidential campaign, as a model of legislative bipartisan co-operation.
Laney announced in November 1992 that he had secured the pledges of more than eighty of his colleagues to elect him speaker.
When Craddick undertook a mid-decade congressional redistricting, Laney joined fellow Democrats who traveled to Ardmore, Oklahoma, to block consideration of the Republicans' bill by denying the House a quorum.
Democrats kept Laney's seat in 2006 with former Crosby County Judge Joseph P. Heflin, who defeated Jim Landtroop of Plainview.