The Far-Right Freak Show: Day 10 Of The Texas Lege
Democrats outsmart the right while Tim Dunn’s minions self-destruct.
The House rules (HR4) were filed this morning. At 4:00 am, they were also emailed to all House members, which caused Brian Harrison (R-HD10) to cry. In the rules, the elimination of Democratic chair positions was newly added.
The rules allowed Democrats to be vice-chairs in each committee.
While the House was scheduled to gavel in at 2:00 pm, the carnival barkers took to social media to complain that they only had ten hours to read the rules, which contained secret powers for Democrats.
An example of the carnival barking:
The House gaveled in and got to the business of House rules.
I thought they would have gone over the Housekeeping resolution today, but they did not. When they return on Monday, that may be their first order of business.
Here is Representative Todd Hunter (R-HD32) explaining the changes in the rules compared to the last session:
There are no more Democratic chairs, but all committees have Democratic vice chairs. Hunter also restructured several committees, ending some and creating new subcommittees. The far right didn’t like this because they felt it still allowed Democrats to participate in the legislative process.
Tony Tinderholt (R-HD94) attempted to postpone the rules debate until Monday (Day Fourteen) but failed.
Several Democrats questioned Hunter about the rules. I’ve uploaded each to YouTube if you want to check them out. But it seems as if Democrats mainly were content with the new regulations, as it didn’t shut them out of the process and still allowed them a seat at the table.
Everything seemed to go smoothly for the first House debate until Jared Patterson (R-HD106) called the previous question. Then, it was a complete comedy show.
Calling the previous question means that Patterson got (at least) 25 signatures to allow the House to vote on ending the debate and then going straight to voting on the rules. However, the far right wanted to add to and debate amendments, further limiting Democrats in the legislative process. By calling the previous questions, all of those amendments and debates were dead.
This infuriated them. Representative Mike Schofield (R-HD132) took to the front mic and threatened the rest of the body, saying, “If you do this to us, we’re going to do it to you back.”
Yep, the first House floor debate in the 89th Legislative session included threats from one Republican faction to another.
Shoot it directly into my veins. This set the tone for Republicans in the House over the next six months. Expect total chaos.
The House voted on whether to limit debate; every Democrat voted in favor, along with 51 Republicans. 35 Republicans voted against it.
The 35 ‘nays’ below are going to be the problem children for the 89th Legislative session:
After that, Brian Harrison and Nate Schatzline (R-HD93) ran to the back mic to question Speaker Burrows. And apparently, Harrison’s question was so stupid that the entire House laughed at him. (Good stuff.)
The House then voted on the rules, and only 23 Republicans voted against them.
Is this a win?
Not really, because Democrats have less power than they did last session, but it’s not a total loss because they still have a seat at the table despite Republican efforts to shut them out. More than anything, with this first debate, the debate on rules, Democrats proved they’re still capable of outsmarting the right. Maybe that is a win.
House Democrats held a quick (5-minute) press conference to reassert their focus on doing what’s right for the people of Texas.
And for the carnival barkers?
They’re big, big mad.
Schatzline said, “This is war.” 🤣
The first House debate of the 89th Legislative Session was everything we could’ve hoped for: chaos, infighting, and a few far-right meltdowns.
The ringleaders of ridiculousness came in hot, convinced that Democrats had somehow stolen secret powers in the rules. Meanwhile, Tim Dunn’s minions, the Schofields, Harrisons, and Schatzlines of the world, flopped so hard they might as well have performed a synchronized dive off the Speaker’s podium.
The far right loves to claim they’re “fighting for Texans,” but today’s performance made it clear they’re really just fighting… each other. And while Democrats may have less power than last session, they still managed to outmaneuver the circus crew, proving once again that strategy beats screaming every time.
So, congratulations to Tim Dunn’s puppets for showing us what not to do in a legislative session. I can’t wait to see what fresh dysfunction they bring next week. Grab your popcorn, folks. It’s going to be a long, ridiculous six months.
January 24: Left In Texas Podcast - Representative Ana-Maria Ramos
January 28: Senate Finance Committee - Article V
March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.
June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.
Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.
LoneStarLeft is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and Instagram.
cuts to Medicaid demand by a guy who makes $179,000 a year...tax payer $$
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told KFF that the goal is "wholesale reform" of health care spending, including scaling back ACA expansions.
Speaking of cuts........and that means nursing home care and CHIPS...it doesn't mean drunks (hegesth?) can no longer buy booze
“Without them, we will watch this country sadly enter into fiscal collapse,” Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), chair of the House Budget Committee, told KFF.
I think they both supported Trumps trillion $$ tax cuts last time and upcoming=trillions added to debt.....
Texas taking title to the meanest place on earth
do the numbers: 671,000 Texas Children were born to at least 1 undoc parent
Of course no Dem will remind one voter that Abbot/Trump want to eliminate Hispanic voters numbers...