Hundreds of conservative grassroots activists and Republican elected officials in Collin County strengthened statewide calls for lawmakers to stop giving Democrats powerful committee chairmanships—a Texas GOP priority for the 2023 legislative session that starts on January 10.
The Republican Round Table of Collin County, a network of local officials and grassroots leaders, sent a letter Thursday asking House Speaker Dade Phelan to appoint Republican-only committee chairs, calling it “an important rule change that will promise a better future for Texas.”
They want last session’s quorum-busting Democrats kept out of vice-chair positions too.
“Why should they be rewarded?” asked Collin County Commissioner Darrell Hale, a Round Table member who signed the letter.
The members urge Phelan and area state representatives to make decisions about committee appointments “in concert with the Legislative priorities of the Republican Party of Texas, because the future of Texas is threatened by Democrat-run committees.”
The letter is signed by 277 elected officials and grassroots conservatives representing 35 different organizations that participate in weekly Round Table discussions. Signers include County Judge Chris Hill, County Commissioners Hale and Cheryl Williams, and Sheriff Jim Skinner.
Collin County Republican Party Chairman Abraham George also signed.
George released a video last week explaining why grassroots Republicans who helped elect an even larger GOP majority for the upcoming legislative session don’t want Democrats chairing committees.
“Anyone with half a brain can understand that this is not good for Texas,” he said. “It’s not good for our families, it’s not good for our party or our future.”
On Tuesday, a statewide coalition of grassroots conservatives sent a letter to State Rep. Steve Toth (R–The Woodlands) asking him to help unify Republican support for a rule change to ban Democrat chairs proposed by State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R–Royce City).
