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December 8, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
The race for Speaker of the House had been pretty quiet for a while....
And then the last few days happened.
On Friday, Speaker Dade Phelan dropped out of the race after several of his allies endorsed against him.
Then yesterday, the House Republican Caucus met and nominated State Rep. David Cook as the Republican choice for Speaker. Cook has promised a series of reforms, including eliminating Democrat chairmanships.
Meanwhile, State Rep. Dustin Burrows is attempting to create a coalition of Democrats and Republicans to thwart Cook in January. After the Caucus vote yesterday, Burrows released a list of 38 Republicans and 38 Democrats he claimed support him.
In the following hours, however, numerous members began to come out and say they did not give permission to be on Burrows' list and in fact actually support David Cook.
The actual vote for Speaker will take place on the first day of session, January 14.
The question between now and then is whether Republicans will side with the Republican nominee for Speaker, David Cook, or the Democrats' choice, Dustin Burrows.
Featured
Just one day after House Speaker Dade Phelan announced he was dropping out of his race for re-election to lead the House, the Republican Caucus has selected Mansfield Republican State Rep. David Cook as their nominee for the position.
His opponent, Lubbock Republican State Rep. Dustin Burrows, said shortly after the vote that he had enough votes to win with Democrat support.
The decision came after an hours-long caucus meeting held at the state capitol on Saturday.
State
TAMU Class Explores ‘Systemic Racism’ in American Politics
“Race and Politics in the United States” is a class from the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M.
Constitutional Amendment Proposed to Let Attorney General Prosecute Election Crimes
The ability, granted by lawmakers in 2017, was taken away from the attorney general after a 2021 ruling by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
A Leftward Lurch: Gene Wu Takes Over Democrat Caucus Amid Leadership Shake-Up
In addition to his ties to the CCP, Wu has been a vocal opponent of legislation banning hostile foreign entities, including China, from purchasing land in Texas.
Local
Houston Mayor Diverts $2.6 Million From Bridge Lighting to New Homelessness Initiative
Mayor Whitmire said the funding will be better used to tackle Houston’s homelessness crisis than on “decorative” lights.
Texas DPS Captures Child Smuggler in Del Rio
Roman Ibarra Rojo was seen carrying a 5-year-old girl across the Rio Grande into a truck.
Grand Prairie ISD Trustees Fire Suspended Superintendent
School board members hired Jorge Arredondo this summer but suspended him in September.
Federal
Reports Suggest Migrants Encamped in Mexico Will Go Home After Trump Inauguration
Rumors are also flying in the encampments that President Biden might open the border on December 18 for illegal crossers to enter the U.S.
DOJ Attempts to Silence Texas Children’s Hospital Whistleblower
State Rep. Brian Harrison called the motion for a gag order against the surgeon “outrageous.”
Texas Stops Biden Admin From Blocking Parental Consent Laws
The federal rule would have required healthcare providers to give contraceptives to minors without their parent’s consent.
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