Texas Scorecard by Sydnie Henry October 12, 2023
State Rep. Tony Tinderholt often questions Phelan’s decisions from the back microphone on the House Floor. In an escalation of his war with conservative lawmakers, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan announced Thursday that Republican State Rep. Tony Tinderholt has been banned from making parliamentary inquiries without prior approval.
A parliamentary inquiry is a question asked by a House member to the speaker to clarify rules or procedures.
Phelan (R-Beaumont) accused Tinderholt of being “dilatory” or wasting time with his parliamentary inquiries.
“There is no Texas House precedent for the gag order Dade Phelan issued against Rep. Tinderholt today,” central Texas Attorney Tony McDonald, who is experienced in parliamentary procedure, told Texas Scorecard. “It was clear that Phelan was scared of the mounting pressure on him and was reading from a pre-planned script to shut Tinderholt down from asking him tough questions.”
McDonald noted that Phelan’s decision appears to deprive the whole House of its authority to punish members.
https://twitter.com/reptinderholt/status/1712505018316702023More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/house-speaker-dade-phelan-bans-lawmaker-from-asking-questions/
