(TEXAS SCORECARD) – In his role as spokesman for House Speaker Dade Phelan, former Gov. Rick Perry said in an interview this week that Democrats will continue to hold chairmanships in the Texas House.
“I came in January of 1985 and there have always been Democrats as chairs when we had Republican speakers, I suggest that will continue,” Perry told KXAN.
When Perry entered the Texas House in 1985, he did so as a Democrat and Democrats held a majority in chamber. Perry did not switch to the GOP until he ran for statewide office.
As the Democrats have moved further to the left, the practice of awarding them committee chairmanships has come under scrutiny by GOP activists in recent years because of conservative priorities being stymied by the House leadership.
In exchange for their support in 2020 and 2022, Speaker Phelan allowed Democrats to thwart Republican priorities on issues ranging from election security to education reform and tax relief. When Democrats fled the state to block consideration of election integrity legislation, Phelan refused to remove their chairmanships.
On the Republican primary ballot in 2022, more than 1.8 million Texans voted on the question of ending the practice of giving chairman ships to Democrats. The nonbinding proposition passed with more than 80 percent support. The issue is a priority for ther Republican Party of texas’ 2025 legislative agenda.
Earlier this year, 46 Republicans in the Texas House signed a letter stating they would “only vote for a candidate for speaker pursuant to the Platform and the Caucus By-Laws who will only appoint Republicans as committee chairs.”
Since then, 48 Republican members of the incoming 89th Legislature have endorsed David Cook of Mansfield to replace Phelan.
The incumbent speaker has not released a list of supporters, but Perry told KXAN that “he’s got the votes to be elected.” But, when pressed for names, Perry refused.
Perry agreed when asked if Phelan’s pathway to the speakership would come from Democrats, supplemented by Republicans.
“Yeah, it makes total sense,” said Perry.
Last week, Texans United for a Republican Majority issued an unofficial headcount in which they could only identify 10 lawmakers supporting Phelan.
Sources in the Capitol have said Perry received a seven-figure payout to support Phelan’s reelection as part of a bid to bring casino gambling to Texas.