Following the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House in Congress, Texas politicians are suggesting that a similar process should be followed in the Texas House.
As reported by The Dallas Express, McCarthy (R-CA) was removed from his role as speaker via a motion to vacate the chair by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). The successful motion was the first of its kind in American history.
The shockwave has reverberated down to the Lone Star State, where political opponents of current Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) are considering a similar motion to remove the speaker.
Phelan has received mounting criticism and calls to resign or vacate the chair following his support for the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton. After rushing the process through in potential violation of both state law and century-old historical precedent, the attempt to remove the thrice-elected AG failed in the Senate after the body determined the Board of Managers did not make their case.
Since then, Phelan has been roundly denounced by other Texas leaders, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Republican Party of Texas, and even the local political parties around the state. Former President Donald Trump also demanded Phelan’s resignation.
With Gov. Greg Abbott calling another special session of the legislature in the next week, some are hoping that the House will remove Phelan and elect a new speaker.
Former Texas representative Jeff Carson suggested, “Ok, Kevin McCarthy is out. Now let’s do Dade Phelan in the Texas House. Show Dade the door!”
Similarly, Mitch Little, one of the defense attorneys who successfully represented Paxton during the impeachment trial, said, “If even the US House can do it, the Texas House can do it.”
Paxton himself seconded the sentiment, adding, “Yes they can!”
Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian), a staunch critic of Phelan’s speakership, has urged for him to step down from his position.
“[Considering] The way that the Paxton impeachment was handled, coupled with his choice to voluntarily give some of the most liberal Democrats in our body control of some of the most powerful committees in our chamber, as well as the fact that he has in fact presided over the body while not being able to execute his responsibilities, I firmly believe that the State of Texas would be better served if Speaker Phelan would do the right thing and step aside,” he explained.
When asked about whether he would file a motion to vacate, Harrison said, “I’m still considering all my options right now, but here’s what’s clear: the State of Texas needs new leadership in the Texas House of Representatives.”
For his part, Phelan has given no indication of willingly stepping down and has slammed Lt. Gov. Patrick, the Senate, and Paxton’s supporters in the aftermath of the AG’s acquittal.
In an opinion piece published by the Beaumont Enterprise, Phelan claimed, “[T]he evidence against Paxton presented to our chamber after a months-long investigation into allegations involving bribery, deceit and other types of disturbing misconduct, was more than damning, and our chamber overwhelmingly agreed that a further examination of the facts was merited.”
Phelan continued by suggesting that Patrick had been influenced by a campaign donation.
“Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who led us to believe he would preside over this trial in a fair and just manner, took a whopping $3 million donation from a Political Action Committee pushing for Paxton’s exoneration before the trial even began. … The fix was in from the start,” Phelan alleged.
