87th Legislature Elections 2020 State House Statewide News
Fissure Within the Texas GOP Widens After General Election Successes, Ahead of Legislative Session
Stances taken by Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West have spurred irritation among some of the party faithful, but the conflict is emblematic of a broader intra-party dispute.
Brad Johnson




A fissure within the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) is growing ever wider between its Chairman Allen West, the grassroots faction he represents, and a more conventional portion of the party.

Once the result of Saturday’s contentious GOP runoff in Senate District (SD) 30 became clear, Texas politicos’ congratulations to state Rep. Drew Springer (R-Muenster) flooded social media. Springer defeated Dallas salon owner-turned political force Shelley Luther — famously vaulted to popularity for her defiance of a local shutdown order — by 13 points.

The clash featured a grassroots conservative backed by West Texas oilman and conservative megadonor Tim Dunn versus a more rural establishment-type Republican supported by much of the state GOP House caucus and Governor Greg Abbott.

The latter emerged victorious, adding a tally in the governor’s win column of mixed result involvement in GOP races this cycle.-- excerpt, rest at link above --

Will Dade Phelan Allow Democrats to Chair Key Committees?
Four Republican lawmakers implore Phelan: “Inform Republican members on your intentions regarding giving Democrats power over our Republican priorities prior to your election to the position of speaker.”

By Brandon Waltens | December 18, 2020

https://texasscorecard.com/state/will-dade-phelan-allow-democrats-to-chair-key-committees/

With State Rep. Dade Phelan (R–Beaumont) poised to be officially elected as speaker of the Texas House in a few weeks, four of his Republican colleagues are asking him to commit to not putting Democrats in charge of key legislative committees.

Phelan’s trajectory to take the gavel has had grassroots activists concerned since his campaign began. When he first announced he had secured commitments from a majority of House members just a day after the general election, the list was riddled with liberal Democrats, forcing speculation on what was bartered for their support.

The scrutiny increased when Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West called Phelan a “political traitor” for courting Democrats.

“The Republican Party of Texas will not sit back idly and watch leftist Democrats be placed as Committee Chairmen who will undermine, kill, our legislative priorities, as happened in the 86th Texas Legislative Session,” said West.

Regardless, Phelan was nominated by the Republican Caucus as their choice for speaker earlier this month.

This week, four lawmakers signed their names onto a letter urging Phelan to consider the fate of Republican priorities when deciding whether to appoint liberal Democrats to oversee certain committees in the Texas House.

The Republicans on the letter include State Reps. Tony Tinderholt (Arlington) and Kyle Biedermann (Fredericksburg), as well as incoming members Bryan Slaton and Jeff Cason.

In the letter, they explained how Democrat-led committees have historically killed conservative priorities:

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For many years, Democrats have chaired committees like Higher Education and Homeland Security & Public Safety. Last session in Higher Education, legislation prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer subsidized tuition rates never received a vote. In Homeland Security & Public Safety, they refused to hear Constitutional Carry in both 85th and 86th legislative sessions. Furthermore, Democrats were given unilateral control of the Public Health Committee which allowed them to kill legislation that would ban abortion when a child’s heartbeat can be detected. Ironically, this legislation passed in our neighboring state of Louisiana and was signed into law by a Democrat Governor.

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They deserve to be irritated and shaken-up. I approve of what West is doing so far.

Quote: Tinker wrote in post #4

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Quote: Sanguine wrote in post #3

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They deserve to be irritated and shaken-up. I approve of what West is doing so far.

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As do I! I'm sick of working my @$$ off to elect conservative Republicans and getting purple results every damned time! Sick to death of it in fact!

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