No images? Click here January 26, 2025 NEWS DIGEST by Brandon Waltens
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. WatchREAL TEXANS: Ken PaxtonFeaturedThe 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. StateTexas State Bar Drops Long-Running Case Against Attorney General Ken Paxton |