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January 26, 2025
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
House Uses ‘Nuclear Option’ To Force Through Rules Empowering Democrats [[link removed]]
Just hours after controversial draft rules for the Texas House were released on Thursday, the chamber rushed through a vote to approve them—without allowing debate or amendments—escalating tensions between reform-minded Republicans and House leadership.
The rules maintained and expanded a power-sharing arrangement between Republicans and Democrats, granting Democrat vice-chairs significant authority and introducing pathways for Democrat control of new standing subcommittees. While Republicans would only be eligible to serve as chairs, all vice-chairs would be required to be Democrats.
The rushed release and subsequent vote raised concerns about transparency and House Speaker Dustin Burrows’ willingness to prioritize the party’s agenda.
During the debate—or lack thereof—State Rep. Todd Hunter attempted to shield Burrows from criticism, claiming that no member, including Burrows, received the rules early. Hunter urged members to direct their frustrations at him instead.
State Rep. Tony Tinderholt proposed postponing consideration of the rules to allow members time to review and amend the 250-page document, as members only received it after 4 a.m. in the morning. However, Burrows refused to entertain the motion.
Before amendments could even be offered, efforts were cut off by State Rep. Jared Patterson, who invoked the motion for the previous question, commonly referred to as a “nuclear option.” This rare procedural move immediately ends all debate and forces a vote.
The motion passed 107-35, effectively shutting down any opportunity to discuss or amend the rules.
The final vote on the rules was 116-23, cementing the controversial provisions.
For reform-minded Republicans, the move is being viewed as a declaration of war. Many had hoped to use the amendment process to strengthen Republican control and address the concerns of their constituents, who have long opposed bipartisan power-sharing arrangements.
Instead, those opportunities were steamrolled by the leadership’s tactics.
Tinderholt pointed out in a social media post following the vote that nearly every Democrat voted to “ban Democrat chairs.”
The chamber adjourned until Monday at 4 p.m. for a long weekend.
Watch REAL TEXANS: Ken Paxton [[link removed]]
For this week's conversation, our guest is Attorney General Ken Paxton. He discusses taking on woke government and corporate policies, what he learned from the impeachment scandal, and why he stays in the fight.
Watch it here [[link removed]].
Featured Texas Senate Moves Swiftly on School Choice, Sets Committee Hearing [[link removed]]
By Luca Cacciatore
The Texas Senate has already referred school choice legislation to committee and has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, January 28.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sent Senate Bill 2 on Friday to the Committee on Education K-16 chaired by State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), who is listed as the measure’s primary author.
The measure would create education savings accounts for parents with students in Texas schools from pre-kindergarten through high school.
It would provide $10,000 annually per pupil to fund accredited private school tuition, textbooks, transportation, and other expenses. Families of students with disabilities, meanwhile, would be allotted $11,500 annually per pupil.
Read More [[link removed]]
State Texas State Bar Drops Long-Running Case Against Attorney General Ken Paxton [[link removed]]
Paxton decried the State Bar’s efforts as politically motivated lawfare. Texas House and Senate Budget Proposals Differ on Tax Relief, Education Funding [[link removed]]
Although the two budget proposals are mostly at parity, including on school choice, they differ in how tax relief and broader education funding are allocated. A&M to Pause Undergraduate Enrollment Growth for 5-7 Years [[link removed]]
The 15,000 undergraduate enrollment cap will allow the university to build needed infrastructure after significant growth.
Read more in State news... [[link removed]]
Local Harris County Taxpayers Pay Millions To Defend Illegal Aliens From Deportation [[link removed]]
Harris County has raised taxes for citizens while spending taxpayer dollars to defend people illegally in the country, even if they have a criminal record. Report: CCP Infiltration of Texas Cities [[link removed]]
State Sen. Bob Hall recommends any ban on agreements between Texas and Chinese cities needs to be enforced. City View ISD Tries to Block Mom From Daughter’s ‘Senior Night’ Event [[link removed]]
Administrators at the North Texas school district criminally trespassed the parent after she criticized how the district handled bullying against her child.
Read more in Local news... [[link removed]]
Federal DOJ Drops Criminal Case Against Texas Children’s Hospital Whistleblower [[link removed]]
Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Pearson filed the motion on Friday asking the court to dismiss the indictment against Dr. Eithan Haim. US Troops Arrive in El Paso To Secure the Border [[link removed]]
The Department of Defense announced they are sending more than a thousand troops to the southern border, along with airlift support to carry out deportations. Texans Applaud Trump Ban on ‘Gender Ideology Extremism’ [[link removed]]
President Trump’s executive order defends women’s rights and restores “biological truth” to the federal government.
Read more in Federal news... [[link removed]]
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