Texas lawmaker Matt Shaheen announced Monday that House Speaker Dade Phelan appointed him to serve on the Sunset Advisory Commission.
A press release from Rep. Shaheen (R-Plano) sent to The Dallas Express states that the Sunset Commission is “responsible for monitoring state agencies’ performance, evaluating the need for the agency and proposing recommendations for positive change.”
Over 130 state agencies are subject to review by the Sunset Commission, and roughly 20 to 30 are evaluated every two years.
Since it was first created in 1977, the Sunset Commission has created changes that led to the abolition of 41 agencies and the consolidation of 51 others while having a positive financial impact of more than $1 billion.
During the most recent legislative session, lawmakers adopted 95% of the suggestions and all 15 of the bills put forth by the Sunset Commission.
Shaheen was one of 60 House Republicans who voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton in May. Paxton was later acquitted on 16 of the 20 Articles of Impeachment by the Senate, which dismissed the remaining four, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
A joint statement released by Shaheen and the rest of the Collin County Republican delegation said their decision to vote against Paxton was “an incredibly difficult vote as, for most of us, Ken has been a longtime friend.”
“And without question, Ken has been an aggressive and effective warrior defending Texans against federal overreach,” the lawmakers added in their statement. “Because of that, this was a vote we wish we didn’t have to make and a vote we do not take lightly.”
Shaheen’s vote for impeachment prompted North Texas businessman Wayne Richard to consider running against him in the Republican primary.
“He’s a phony conservative. His voting credentials have moved further and further to the left. He deserves to be primaried, and I might be the person to run against him,” Richard told The Dallas Express in a previous interview.
Shaheen said he was honored to be appointed to the commission by Phelan (R-Beaumont).
“Serving on the Sunset Commission will allow me to play a leading role in identifying problems and opportunities for improvements within these agencies,” he said in the press release.
“I look forward to ensuring government agencies are effectively serving the people of Texas and remaining accountable for their performance,” he said.