House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, snuffed out a monthslong push Wednesday to end the chamber’s longtime tradition of having committee chairs from both parties.
After Phelan ruled Geren’s points of order successful, Tinderholt sought to gather the 10 signatures required to challenge the speaker’s decision. But Tinderholt said on Twitter that he found only five colleagues willing to sign up: Slaton, Dorazio, Schatzline, Hayes and Harrison.
Phelan’s rulings drew an angry response from Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi, a loud advocate for eliminating Democratic committee chairs. It is one of the party’s eight legislative priorities. “The Republican Speaker is taking the procedural position that restricting chairs to the majority party as every other state and congress does is using state resources for ‘political purposes’ and illegal,” Rinaldi tweeted. “This baseless and absurd ruling was made solely to protect Democrat power.”Before the back-and-forth over Democratic committee chairs, the House passed a rules amendment to punish members who go “absent without leave for the purpose of impeding the action of the House.
The new punishments for quorum-breaking include a $500 fine for each day a member is gone. Those members are also responsible for their share of the cost of dispatching the sergeant-at-arms to bring back members to restore quorum. And the House can consider expelling them after an investigation and report on their actions by the Administration Committee.
The amendment attracted opposition from Democrats who questioned its vagueness and potential conflict with free-speech rights. Rep.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Texas House selects Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker for another legislative sessionNew: Texas House of Representatives members on Tuesday elected Rep. Dade Phelan to a second term as speaker — the most powerful position in the lower chamber.
Leer más »
Texas House selects Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker for another legislative sessionPhelan defeated Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, for the House leadership position in a vote, 145-3. In cruising to victory, Phelan secured the support of Democrats as well as the most conservative members of his party.
Leer más »
Beaumont Rep. Dade Phelan resoundingly re-elected as Texas House Speaker, 145-3In Speaker election, Phelan receives full support of the Democrats in the chamber and...
Leer más »
Republican Dade Phelan Re-Elected as Texas House SpeakerThe Texas House on Tuesday re-elected State Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) to a second term as House Speaker.
Leer más »
Texas House selects Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker for another legislative sessionPhelan defeated Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, for the House leadership position in a vote, 145-3. In cruising to victory, Phelan secured the support of Democrats as well as the most conservative members of his party.
Leer más »
Texas’ 88th Legislature kicks off; Republican Dade Phelan reelected as House speakerAddressing the freshman class, Phelan asked lawmakers to 'not confuse this body with the one in Washington, D.C.'
Leer más »