The Harrison County Republican Party has unanimously passed a resolution supporting the legislative priority adopted by the Republican Party of Texas, calling for new leadership in the Texas House of Representatives.
The resolution charges newly re-elected House District 7 State Rep. Jay Dean to support those goals, particularly after Republican Speaker Dade Phelan went against the will of the Republican majority by appointing nine Democrats to chair committees in the 88th session.
“Whereas, 81.24% of Republican voters in the 2022 Republican Primary voted in support of the proposition which called for the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature to end the practice of awarding committee chairmanships to Democrats,” the resolution points out. “Even with the huge support by Republican voters and knowing it was a Republican Legislative Priority, Speaker Dade Phelan appointed nine Democrats to chair committees in the 88th Session.”
As a result, “the Harrison County Republican Party may censure their elected representative should he deliberately violate the RPT priorities and the will of the voters, by voting to elect a Speaker of the House who appoints Democrats to chair committees in the Texas House,” the resolution, adopted by the local party states.
And now that the Republican Caucus recently convened in December to choose its nominee for Speaker of the Texas House of Representative, the local party urges Rep. Dean to vote in support of the party majority’s desire when the legislative session convenes in January.
“The entire body of the House of Representatives will convene in January to take a floor vote to elect the 89th Speaker of the House. We call our newly re-elected State Representative of House District 7 Jay Dean to honor the overwhelming desire of Harrison County Republicans, House District 7 Republicans and Republicans across the great State of Texas in only supporting a Speaker of the House who is committed to honor the will of the voters and the Republican Party of Texas and will only appoint Republicans to chair committees in the 89th Legislative Session,” the resolution, adopted by the local party states.
The 89th regular Legislative Session runs from Jan. 14 to June 2, 2025. And one of the legislative priorities of the RPT for the 89th Legislative is to maintain Republican control.
“WHEREAS, one of the Legislative Priorities of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) for the 89th (2024-2025) Legislative Session is: “No Democrat Chairs – The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature shall end the practice of awarding committee chairmanships to Democrats and require all committees to be a majority Republican”, the resolution states. “WHEREAS, Plank 213-B of the 2024 RPT Platform states, ‘All committees shall be chaired by Republicans when in the majority’; and WHEREAS, No Democrat Chairs’ was also a RPT Legislative Priority in the 88th (2022-2023) Legislative Session.”
“We extend our appreciation to the Texas House of Representatives who have already expressed the same desire for transparent Republican leadership and have stood firmly to support our resolve that no minority party chairs be appointed to any committees,” the resolution states.
The local resolution has been distributed to the Republican Party of Texas, fellow GOP parties across the state, and various media outlets. It was adopted by the Harrison County Republican Party Executive Committee on Dec. 20, 2024, and signed by newly elected local party chair Mary Napps, and Precinct Chairs: Andy Wineinger, Shelby Chamberlain, Fuzzy Harmon, Lois Boyd, Martha Roberts, Brian Degner, Sherrie Arnold, Melanie Valdez, Bob Holland, Jeff Kroyer, Kathy Duskey, Laurie Shelton and Pamela Payne.