RINORAD (Republican In Name Only, Really A Democrat)

Dade Phelan, a.k.a. RINORAD (Republican In Name Only, Really A Democrat), is known for killing massive conservative legislation. Now, he has the audacity to try to steal the credit in an op-ed he wrote over this summer on a bill he repeatedly tried to kill.

Dade Phelan, a.k.a. RINORAD (Republican In Name Only, Really A Democrat), is known for killing massive conservative legislation. Now, he has the audacity to try to steal the credit in an op-ed he wrote over this summer on a bill he repeatedly tried to kill. Dade is a bald-faced liar on this issue, and he knows it. He says the House took the lead in passing the homestead exemption. The truth is he tried to kill the $100K homestead exemption for four months after he finally passed it, just for show. It's revisionist history for Dade to try to cover up his multiple attempts to kill the bill.

In 2023, the Senate passed a bill to the House raising the homestead exemption from $40K to $70K. Nearly two months later, Dade changed the Senate bill, raising the $70K exemption to $100K to look bigger than the Senate, as he often does. I knew he would because that's how he likes to operate. The Senate embraced the increase to our homestead exemption. But Dade quickly changed his tune, just like I knew he would, and refused to pass it for the next several months, killing the $100K homestead exemption multiple times. He was all hat and no cattle when it came to increasing the exemption and giving homeowners the bigger tax cut.

Near the very end of the regular session, he sent Reps. Bonnen and Burrows to my office to meet with me and my staff. They told us the Speaker would not pass the $100K homestead exemption, and I better take their all-compression tax cut plan. If I didn't, they said we would go into a special session, and I would have no choice but to accept their plan anyway. I told them no deal.

The Senate's plan, including the $100K homestead exemption and part compression, gave homeowners nearly twice the tax cut compared to the House's compression-only plan. The Senate's plan would mean thousands and thousands of dollars more in tax savings for homeowners over their lifetime. I repeatedly said the Senate would never, never, never, never give up the $100K homestead exemption and the bigger tax cut for homeowners. They walked out and we went into the first special session.

On day one of the first special session, Dade passed the House plan without the $100K homestead exemption. He gaveled out and sent his members home. His message was clear. Take it or leave it—no homestead exemption of any amount was in the House plan.

We (the Senate) refused to yield on behalf of homeowners. We then went to a second special session. Once again, Dade refused to pass the $100K homestead exemption or any exemption for homeowners. I did not blink. The senators also did not blink. In a bipartisan show of unity, all 31 senators stood behind me at a press conference and said we would not give up the $100K exemption for homeowners.

Dade finally folded after almost four months of trying to kill the homestead exemption in the regular and special sessions, and the $100K homestead exemption ($110K for seniors) finally passed the House 133-4.

This showed that House members wanted the exemption for homeowners in their districts just as badly as the Senate. The fact that Dade kept his own House members from voting shows Dade didn't care about them or the homeowners they represent. The voters then overwhelmingly passed it in a constitutional amendment last November.

After Dade had agreed to the $100K exemption, I decided to take the high road and invited him to the Senate floor for final passage. I thought I'd try to start a new relationship one more time. He came. But in a few months, he was back to his divisive games. He made up preposterous lies attacking the Senate because he didn't like the verdict of the impeachment trial. He then refused to personally vote for school choice, which helped to kill it in the House. Once again, pleasing House Democrats led to 24 Republican House members either retiring or being defeated in the primaries.

Now, Dade is not only lying again that he led on passing this important legislation, but he also has the gall to try to take the credit for the work of author Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, all 31 senators, and myself when, in truth, he did everything he could for four months to kill that bill.

I will expose him every time he plays this game that he likes to play, to kill legislation important to Texans. I understand the DWD (Done with Dade) group is growing within the House. His only path to remain Speaker is for all or a large majority of Democrats to vote for him. Let's not forget that he won his recent primary run-off by about 300 votes because Democrats crossed over in big numbers and took the Republican primary from the voters of East Texas. Dade Phelan is the ultimate #RINORAD.

My Official Statement Announcing the Second Round of Interim Charges to the Texas Senate

I have issued a second round of interim charges for Senate committees to study in preparation for the 89th Legislature.

When I issued my first round of interim charges, I indicated there may be a second list to come later. Interim charges are based on issues the 31 Senators suggest for possible interim hearings. You can read the second list below. Following the completion of hearings, committees will submit reports with their specific findings and policy recommendations before December 1, 2024.

At the beginning of the 89th Legislative Session in January 2025, the Senate will hit the ground running to ensure the priorities of the conservative majority of Texans are accomplished, including school choice, continued property tax relief, and strengthening our power grid.

To read my new list of interim charges, click here. To read my previous list of interim charges, click here.

Mitch Little is a conservative who believes in freedom, family values, and Texas values. I’m honored to endorse Mitch Little for the Texas House.

Earlier this week, I spoke at an event hosted by the North Texas Automobile Dealers Association. I was joined by Senators Phil King, Tan Parker, and Angela Paxton. Thanks to all the great folks who attended.

Thank you all for your support and everything you do to keep Texas red. May God bless you and your family, and may He continue to bless the greatest state of all—Texas.

"Whomever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant."
Matthew 20:26 (NLT)