Texas GOP urged not to appoint Democrats as committee chairs

Today, Congressman Keith Self led a letter alongside Congressman Wesley Hunt, Congressman Michael Cloud, Congressman Tony Gonzales, and Congressman-elect Brandon Gill addressed to the Republican Members of the Texas House of Representatives. The letter urged these members to support the Texas Republican Caucus Speaker nominee and resist appointing Democrats as chairs of Texas House committees.

The letter stated: “There is no justification for any Republican Texas House Member to work with Democrats to elect a Speaker who will appoint Democrats to chair committee positions in exchange for political support. As you know, a committee chairman wields significant power—they determine what is considered by a committee, committee schedules, and what will ultimately be brought to the House Floor for a vote. Ceding that power to Democrats is an abdication of the authority granted by the people who elected you. For several years, crucial conservative priorities and legislation have been blocked by Democrat Chairmen—including the critical Resolutions Calendar Committee, which determines which resolutions are considered on the Floor.”

Congressman Keith Self commented on President Trump's influence: “President Trump’s November 5th mandate sent a clear signal that Republicans at both state and federal levels need to deliver conservative policies,” he said. “Texas House Republican Members should not kneecap their own majority by ceding committee positions to Democrats. Congress does not operate that way—the Texas House should not either. Fight, fight, fight!”

Congressman Tony Gonzales echoed this sentiment: “President Trump overwhelmingly won a mandate to make America safe again. In Congress, Republicans only elect Republicans to chair committees and deliver on our agenda of closing the border, protecting our Second Amendment rights, and fighting for freedom of speech. As Texans, we expect Texas to do the same.”