Texas Scorecard by Sydnie Henry February 8, 2023
“It is unfathomable the speaker put left-wing Democrats in charge of important and very partisan policy areas like criminal law, business, family issues, and youth health and safety.” Much to the ire of the Republican Party, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has announced the committee assignments for the 88th Legislative Session and continued the practice of appointing Democrats to committee chairman positions.
Banning Democrat committee chairmanships is one of eight Republican priorities for 2023, and although it is supported by more than 81 percent of Republican voters, a majority of Republican lawmakers failed to deliver.
When grassroots conservatives converged on Austin last month, Phelan (R–Beaumont) refused to even allow a vote on whether or not Democrats should be allowed to chair important committees in the Texas House.
Now, Phelan has appointed eight Democrats to chairmanships of standing committees, down from 13 appointments last session. Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi told Texas Scorecard this is still a “win,” saying, “Republican opposition to Democrat chairs clearly had an effect in reducing the number of Democrats in leadership.”
The following House committees will be chaired by Democrats:
Business & Industry – Oscar Longoria (D–Mission)
Corrections – Abel Herrero (D–Robstown)
County Affairs – Victoria Neave (D–Dallas)
Criminal Jurisprudence – Joe Moody (D–El Paso)
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues – Harold Dutton (D–Houston)
Natural Resources – Tracy King (D–Uvalde)
Resolutions Calendar – R.D. “Bobby” Guerra (D–Mission)
Transportation – Terry Canales (D–Edinburg)
“It is unfathomable the speaker put left-wing Democrats in charge of important and very partisan policy areas like criminal law, business, family issues, and youth health and safety,” said Rinaldi.
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/speaker-dade-phelan-appoints-democrats-to-leadership-in-texas-house/
