Texas House Speaker Race: Perry Endorses Phelan for Speaker
Texas lawmakers opened the filing period by submitting over 1,500 bills, breaking the record for the most bills filed on the first day. Despite the symbolic act of camping out in the hallway, there is no advantage to filing bills early, as only a small percentage of bills become law.
Republicans have been motivated by the election results in Texas, leading to bills targeting border security, including restrictions on undocumented students, proof of citizenship for voting, and negotiations with Mexico on border security. Democrats have filed bills addressing abortion and voting access.
State leadership plans to prioritize school choice, property tax reduction, and new border security efforts. Gov. Greg Abbott may name these measures as emergency items, allowing early work on them. The big question is who will be the next House Speaker, with Speaker Dade Phelan facing a challenge from David Cook.
Former Governor Rick Perry is confident that Speaker Phelan will retain his position. Perry emphasized the importance of focusing on moving the state forward and highlighted the need for an all-of-the-above energy policy. He believes that working with Democrats is crucial for the state’s progress and emphasized the importance of collaboration.
However, Republicans backing Cook are skeptical of Perry’s claims and are demanding Phelan to name his supporters. Many elected Republicans oppose the practice of allowing minority party members to chair committees, which Phelan has continued. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who does not allow Democrats to chair Senate committees, has criticized Phelan’s approach.
In another news, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that lawmakers exceeded their authority by delaying Robert Roberson’s execution with a subpoena. Roberson was scheduled to be executed for the murder of his daughter, and lawmakers subpoenaed him to testify before his execution, leading to legal delays. The court stated that the committee’s authority does not include overriding the legal process leading to an execution.
Moreover, some Texas property owners are facing eminent domain deadlines, with an upcoming road project threatening their properties. The new law HB 2730 provides protections for landowners in eminent domain cases, requiring entities to provide rights and an appraisal before making an offer. However, concerns have been raised about the 14-day deadline for landowners to respond to offers.
Representative DeWayne Burns, who helped write the law, emphasized the importance of contacting representatives if there are concerns about the law. Eminent domain lawyer Dan Gattis highlighted the challenges of balancing the needs of private citizens and corporations in eminent domain cases. He suggested that more transparency from entities about projects could help address landowners’ concerns.
As the population in Williamson County continues to grow, the number of eminent domain cases is increasing. The evolving land values in the county are complicating eminent domain cases, making it challenging for landowners to receive fair compensation. The story of Angela Wetuski, whose property is threatened by a road project, highlights the struggles faced by property owners in eminent domain cases. Wetuski and others have formed a group to oppose the road project and are working to protect their properties.
Lastly, Erica Lee Carter, daughter of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, has taken office to finish the final weeks of her mother’s term. Carter expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue her mother’s work and honor her legacy in Congress. Her mother’s death prompted a special election, where Carter won to fill the remaining term until the next election. Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who won the election for the next two years, will take office in January.
