AUSTIN — The start of the third special session of the Texas Legislature began with mud-slinging, calls for resignation, and parliamentary side steps.
As reported by The Dallas Express, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the House and Senate to convene and consider proposals related to border security, school choice, and vaccine mandates. Set to begin October 9, the session was already expected to be highly charged as education savings accounts are staunchly opposed by Democrats.
However, House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) threw an early wrench into the proceedings. Referencing a report published the previous day by The Texas Tribune, the speaker attempted to link Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to an alleged Nazi sympathizer named Nick Fuentes due to the latter’s visit to a PAC that has donated to Patrick. The lieutenant governor did not attend the meeting, nor is there any indication he was aware of it, but Phelan, invoking the terrorist attack in Israel, appeared to try and link the two issues.
In turn, Patrick slammed Phelan for his statement.
“I didn’t think even Dade Phelan would stoop this low. His latest political stunt is disgusting, despicable, and disingenuous,” Patrick said. “With nearly 1,000 dead and over a hundred kidnapped, anyone who would use the war in Israel for their own political purposes is revolting, repulsive, and repugnant.”
“Nick Fuentes and his antisemitic rhetoric have no place in the United States. Those who spew such vile, loathsome, abominations will have to answer for it,” he continued. “For anyone to try to use these invectives for their own political gain is below contempt.”
Patrick concluded by once again calling for Phelan’s resignation, saying, “There is no place in Texas political discourse for any elected official to use the atrocities in Israel for their own political gain. That’s what Dade Phelan is doing. At this point, he’s simply got to go.”
A little after 1 p.m., the House convened with Phelan still wielding the speaker’s gavel.
The PAC Phelan criticized donates to many politicians who have stood against the speaker’s attempt to remove Attorney General Ken Paxton from office, including Patrick, who has been increasingly vocal in his criticisms of Phelan.
Texas Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi was also reportedly seen at the offices that day, but when asked, he denied meeting with Fuentes and denied any knowledge of him being on the premises at any point that day.
“I completely condemn that guy and everything he stands for,” Rinaldi said, per the Tribune. “I would never in a million years meet with that guy.”
Rinaldi has since issued a fuller statement detailing his opposition to Fuentes and reaffirming his support for Israel in its fight against the terrorist group Hamas.
After passing a resolution in support of Israel in response to the ongoing war, Phelan announced that the House would adjourn until Thursday, eliciting murmurs from the crowd who expected there to be a leadership showdown.
At that moment, Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) asked to be heard from the back mic. Upon being recognized, Tinderholt asked whether Phelan would release the amount of taxpayer funds that the House spent on the impeachment push against Paxton.
“That business is not before the House and the line of questioning is out of line,” Phelan responded.
When Tinderholt asked if the House was worried that the cost spent on the “sham impeachment” would be more than the $3.3 million settlement requested by the Office of the Attorney General, Phelan quickly cut him off. Several boos were heard from members on the floor.
As reported by The Dallas Express, Tinderholt and several other representatives have demanded fiscal transparency on the issue. Patrick has also called for an audit.
Additionally, more than 70 members of the House Republicans caucus signed a letter echoing Phelan’s demands for all politicians who received donations from the PAC mentioned in The Texas Tribune report to donate those funds and denounce the group.
However, some Republican members and outspoken supporters of Israel declined to sign the letter, considering it a political stunt designed to use the war in Israel to unfairly score points against political opponents.
For example, Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth) said, “I have been very clear about my love and support for the nation of Israel, and I condemn all antisemitic beliefs.”
“However, I am disappointed that the atrocities that are taking place in Israel are being used to fuel inner-party conflict and I will have no part in it,” he added.
Similarly, Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) denounced Phelan for “pressuring House Republicans to sign a statement attacking a political opponent.”
“Antisemitism must be repudiated and has no place in the Republican Party or the conservative movement, and America should stand in solidarity with our strongest ally in the Middle East,” he added. “Not only does the Caucus’s childish and divisive draft statement not accomplish those objectives, it demonstrates an ignorance of the implications and a diminution of the gravity of this geopolitical crisis and is a pathetic effort by House Leadership to put politics ahead of national security.”
Harrison concluded by calling for Phelan to step down.