Current House Speaker Dade Phelan has yet another lawmaker challenging him for the gavel, as State Rep. James Frank has officially filed for the position.
In a letter to current and incoming members, Frank wrote that after the end of last session and the primary election, it became clear that both lawmakers and voters want to move in a different direction.
To that end, Frank’s announcement focused on three points: communication, member empowerment, and floor management.
Frank says he wants to provide better communication, not just between the speaker and the members, but between the House and the Senate as well.
“Personal communication must focus on members, but it is also critical that there is clear and personal communication with the Senate, the Lt. Governor and the Governor’s office. Relationships don’t get better by not talking. I have the time, willingness, and understand the importance of spending as much energy as necessary to ensure communication flows between the chambers and among the members,” wrote Frank.
Frank also said he wants to move power away from the speaker and back to the elected members:
Every member of the House serves a district of nearly 200,000 Texans, and every district needs to have a voice in the process. Over time, political processes (in every arena including Texas) tend to gravitate to favor those in power. It is crucial that we review every practice in the House that consolidates power into the hands of the speaker and find intelligent ways to return these powers to the individual members. While we need to make sure the speaker’s office can continue to perform its necessary organizing function, I would like to engage and empower members to represent their districts (regardless of seniority or party).
He also told members that he would work to ensure the limited time they have during session is put to better use, saying that the majority party’s priority measures should be passed early in the session to prevent unnecessary special sessions.
“This will allow us to ensure that Republican members can fulfill their promises to their constituents,” said Frank.
Like Phelan’s other challengers, Frank said only Republican members should serve as chairs. “This will allow significantly more Republican members to participate in leadership roles,” he wrote, while assuring that Democrats would not be excluded from the process. Phelan meanwhile has repeatedly defended the practice of placing Democrats in leadership positions.
Frank joins State Reps. Tom Oliverson, Shelby Slawson, and David Cook in challenging Phelan for the position.
Incoming Republican members will select a candidate for speaker in caucus later this year. The official vote for speaker will take place on the first day of the legislative session, January 14, 2025.
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