Fight Goes On

To the Editor:

This headline was disappointing to many but not unexpected; “Democrat coalition propels Dustin Burrows to Speaker of the Texas House.”

Does this mean conservative Republicans lost?

No. Phelan was defeated. The Republican caucus elected a nominee for the first time. Burrows broke the rules of the Republican caucus as did several Republican representatives who voted for Burrows (the list has been made public.)

Lucas Macias reports “59% of the Republicans voted for Cook. 58% or Dustin Burrows votes are from Democrats.”

The House Democrats might feel yesterday was a victory for them because since Joe Straus’ announcement that he had the votes to become speaker, there has been no vote. On Jan. 14, 2025, the House Democrats, which have been a significant chunk of what keeps the Texas House Speaker in power, elected the House speaker in the Texas House chambers and not behind closed doors. Do these Democrats believe that electing Burrows will benefit their attempts to eliminate policy they don’t want and will potentially keep the Texas House opposed to the conservative agenda of the Republican leaders?

Dan Patrick is quoted in The Texas Insider, “Despite having a clear majority of Republican votes, Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, was defeated. Speaker Burrows was handed the speakership by Democrats, as has happened behind closed doors session after session since 2009. This may be the first time in our nation’s history where the minority party openly elected the speaker of a legislative body instead of the majority party. Republican voters expected the new speaker to be elected by Republicans, not by Democrats.”

Will Burrows keep his promise “to pass important conservative legislation that previously failed to pass the House?”

Burrows has delayed the rules debate which governs the operation of the House chamber, until Jan. 23, 2025, a week into the 89th legislative session. According to a Texas Minute report. “The last time the rules were voted on this late was in 2009, the first session of former Speaker Joe Straus.” Is Burrows repeating history?

The Texas Tribune had a lengthy article in Jan. 15 edition on winners and losers in the Texas House Speaker race which focuses on the consequences of a representative’s vote.

Mr. Behlen’s headline in the Record last Friday claims HD 85 representative Mr. Kitzman was on the ‘winning side’ of the Texas House speaker vote. Seems to me Mr. Burrows and Mr. Kitzman each betrayed their party pledges and constituents. Who are they representing? Who and what are they committed to? Any elected representative who will not abide by the rules of his declared party affiliation is not a winner.

The fight for Texas goes on.

Cindy Rodibaugh Flatonia