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The Blast: Texas House Republicans’ “Third Way” [1]

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Date: 2024-06 

Bill Clinton had The Third Way. Texas House Republicans have the Texas Conservative Commitment.



Today, 43 Republican members and nominees unveiled a commitment detailing 10 priorities for the 89th Legislature, which convenes in January. It’s the third such document outlining officials’ visions for the Texas House next year, but some are viewing this document as a rival pledge to the Republican Party of Texas’ list of eight top legislative priorities.



In the document, prospective members reaffirm their positions on recent laws passed on abortion, the economy, gun rights and gender transition-related care for children. Additionally, signers committed to strengthening border security, passing “universal school choice,” eliminating property taxes, stopping “leftist indoctrination” in education, securing critical infrastructure and land from foreign entities, protecting children from online threats, banning taxpayer-funded lobbying and improving power grid reliability.



Those who signed the document appear to be ones more closely aligned with House Speaker Dade Phelan. That includes the likes of Calendars Committee Chair Dustin Burrows of Lubbock, Appropriations Committee Chair Greg Bonnen of Friendswood and State Affairs Committee Chair Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi. Signatories also included some whose alliances seem mixed, like Daniel Alders, Hillary Hickland and Joanne Shofner.



Both the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Texas branch of Americans for Prosperity came out in support of the Texas Conservative Commitment. TPPF CEO Greg Sindelar even volunteered TPPF to host working groups with lawmakers to address the proposed policies.



During the primary runoff, Republicans who oppose Phelan circulated the Contract with Texas. The “contract” proposes reforms to the House and caucus rules that would diffuse power from the speaker and House leadership to the Republican caucus more broadly. Additionally, the document calls for the end of Democrats serving as committee chairs.



After the primary runoffs, in which Phelan was one of only two House GOP incumbents to survive, Republican members and nominees circulated a pledge against “Democrat chairs.” Although Phelan reaffirmed his position in favor of appointing Democrats to chair some House committees as recently as late March, the anti-Democratic chair pledge has not been viewed as outright anti-Phelan — and was signed by members of the “in” crowd. It’s also viewed as a compromise to the Contract with Texas.



Unlike the Texas Conservative Commitment, those first two pledges focused solely on reforms to the House. Critics of the document say it lacks support for the reforms to be able to pass the policies its members claim to commit to.



“While it is always encouraging to see lawmakers work together to advance conservative policies, the ‘Texas Conservative Commitment’ is clearly designed to advance alternative policies in lieu of the Texas GOP Legislative Priorities,” Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George said in a statement. “Most frustratingly, this commitment is silent on the issue of Democrat chairs which members of Speaker Dade Phelan’s leadership team are trying to protect.”



Rep. Tom Oliverson, a Republican from Cypress who is challenging Phelan for the speakership, ascribed to George’s view and committed himself to passing the party’s legislative priorities. Oliverson did not sign the Texas Conservative Commitment while his fellow speaker challenger, Rep. Shelby Slawson of Stephenville, did.



And here was one remark from Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, capping off a dismissive take saying the Commitment didn’t break any new ground: “Honestly, it’s not even interesting.”

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[1] Url: https://mailchi.mp/texastribune/the-blast-texas-house-republicans-third-way

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