AUSTIN, Texas — House Republicans this week wielded their majority vote to block Democrats from holding committee chair positions. This is a long-held practice in the chamber, but Republicans who wanted to see this change say minority party committee leadership blocks conservative priorities.
“I didn’t set this up with a gotcha here or a gotcha there. But what I’ve tried to do is create a different framework that isn’t that different than how we have worked before,” said Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi.
According to the chamber rules for the 89th legislative session, only the chamber’s majority party members can serve as committee chairs. But vice chairs are reserved for the minority party.
“They voted to empower the minority party in a way that they have never been empowered in the history of the state of Texas,” said Midlothian Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian.
Instead of holding a handful of committee leadership positions, Democrats will now have a seniority role in each committee. There is also language encouraging chairs and vice chairs to work closely on schedules and calling witnesses. Some Republicans conclude that this gives Democrats more power than during previous sessions.
“The chair shall arrange to ensure that measures in matters designated by the vice chair are promptly scheduled for a public hearing. Under this rule, [do] measures and matters not mean Democrat vice chairs can dictate what’s on an agenda in a committee?” asked Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington.
“This is Texas, this is not Washington D.C. And yet I wonder if anybody gave any consideration to the fact that we are moving in the direction of being just like Washington D.C.,” said Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston.
Democrats believe the bill reduces their power by blocking them from the five-committee chairman positions they previously held.
“But at least gives us some ability to interact in the process and have our constituents’ needs met,” said Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston.
Still, representatives who supported the measure say the body didn’t need to be hung up on a trivial matter. Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, got enough support to move the body for a vote on the resolution with no amendments.
“Members who came together agreed to work toward a solution, gave some, got some, and are ready to get to work,” said Patterson.
Part of the rules eliminated six committees, including County Affairs, and added two committees, including Delivery of Government Efficiency and Intergovernmental Affairs.
