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March 17, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
A member of Dade Phelan’s leadership team says Phelan will not be returning as speaker in 2025.
The comment came in an op-ed published by State Reps. J.M. Lozano and Tony Tinderholt in the Dallas Express in which the pair of lawmakers advocated for ending the practice of awarding committee chairmanships to Democrats—a practice that has been championed by Phelan.
The most notable comment, however, may be in the commentary’s conclusion, in which they wrote, “The voters made clear on March 5th that Speaker Dade Phelan will not return as Speaker of the House. As we work toward defeating Democrats in November, all Texas House Republicans should make clear to our voters the practice of appointing Democrats to chair committees will come to an end as well.”
Lozano is the chair of the House Committee on Urban Affairs, as appointed by Phelan earlier last year.
Phelan finds himself behind in two simultaneous uphill battles—one for his southeast Texas House seat and another for the speakership.
He came in second place in his primary election last week to former Orange County GOP chairman David Covey. Because neither candidate received over 50 percent of the vote, they will compete head-to-head in a runoff election on May 28.
Sources have suggested that many members have moved on from Phelan and are prepared to choose a new speaker regardless of whether he returns to the House.
Phelan did not respond to a request for comment on Lozano’s remarks.
This is not the first time Lozano has broken with the speaker, however. After voting alongside Phelan for the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton last year, he later signed on as a joint author of a resolution to apologize for the chamber’s rushed impeachment.
Featured
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued housing development company Colony Ridge for “deceptive trade practices, fraud in real estate transactions, and other violations of Texas and federal law.”
Colony Ridge—which was also sued by the Department of Justice late last year for using “bait and switch” predatory loans—is located northeast of Houston in Liberty County.
In an October 2023 letter addressed to members of the U.S. Congress, Paxton wrote that “The development appears to be attracting and enabling illegal alien settlement in the state of Texas and distressing neighboring cities and school districts.”
State
Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi Not Seeking Re-Election
Rinaldi endorsed former Collin County GOP Chair Abraham George for the position.
Dade Phelan Races to Raise Money from Austin Establishment
Fundraising invitations offer inisight into who is powering Dade Phelan’s campaign.
Federal Court Upholds Texas Law Protecting Kids From Online Porn
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s age-verification requirements for commercial pornography sites are constitutional.
Local
Bell County Official Caught Inside Polling Places During Primary Election
Local Republicans asked County Attorney James Nicols to investigate Commissioner Louie Minor’s apparent violations of Texas election law.
Austin ISD to Host LGBT ‘Pride Week’ for Students
The school district will be hosting multiple activities for its students to promote LGBT ideology.
City of Houston and Fire Department Reach Deal
The city plans to pay $656.5 million to settle the eight-year labor dispute.
Federal
Paxton Sues Biden Administration to Halt New Rule Regulating Oil and Gas Emissions
The EPA’s new rule aims to slash up to 58 million tons of methane emissions by 2038.
Federal Judge Orders Biden Administration to Continue Building Border Wall
The attorney general celebrated the order by stating that “Texas has prevailed.”
Ex-Border Patrol Officer Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Illegal Aliens, Drug Crimes
Emanuel Isac Celedon admitted to the crimes, which took place at Laredo’s Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry.
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