Two state representatives are calling on the Texas House’s Democrat Criminal Jurisprudence Chair to hold interim hearings on urgent matters that they believe are putting Texas in imminent danger.
State Reps. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) and Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth) wrote a formal letter urging Criminal Jurisprudence Chair Joe Moody (D-El Paso) to hold hearings on border security, potential child abuse and fraud at Texas Children’s Hospital, and President Joe Biden’s lawfare against whistleblowers.
But despite calls from a growing group of Republican lawmakers over the past several weeks to add an investigation of the allegations to the House’s interim committee charges, Phelan has thus far ignored them.
During Tuesday’s meeting, both Harrison and Schatzline—who serve on the committee—asked Moody if there was any possibility of discussing future legislation regarding the heinous crimes that have taken place. However, Moody explained he would have to review the committee rules to determine if the requested charges could be added.
“You know, I’d have to look through committee rules to see what the proper way to do it is. I’ve not seen that done in the past, but your statements have been made and I think the message has been delivered,” said Moody.
On Wednesday morning, Schatzline and Harrison wrote a letter to Moody, explaining that after reviewing the Texas Government Code, Moody does have the authority to hold hearings on any issue within the Committee’s jurisdiction.
Texas Government Code 301.014 (c) states, “A standing committee is not limited in its legislative endeavors to considering bills, resolutions, or other proposals submitted by individual legislators. Each committee shall search for problems within its jurisdiction and develop, formulate, and recommend passage of any legislative solution the committee believes is desirable.”
Schatzline explained to Texas Scorecard that because House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) has continued to ignore their requests for a formal interim charge to be issued for border security, they had to call on Moody to act.
“What is happening at Texas Children’s Hospital and what continues to happen as a result of our open border is completely unacceptable and poses a serious threat to all Texans. Me and Rep. Harrison have repeatedly asked Speaker Phelan to look into these matters, but he has ignored us and the Texans he represents,” said Schatzline. “As a result, we have asked Chair Moody to use his authority and address these issues through the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.”
Harrison shared similar sentiments. “The Texas House must stop sitting idly by as Biden wages lawfare against brave whistleblowers who have exposed potential child abuse and Medicaid fraud. Since Speaker Phelan has repeatedly ignored requests to convene emergency hearings to investigate the federal officials and hospital leadership, we are now asking Rep. Moody to act,” said Harrison.
“It will be interesting to see if a Democrat takes swifter action to protect Texans than the entire ‘Republican’ House leadership team has so far,” he added.
Harrison and Schatzline are asking for the committee “(1) to examine the credible claims of illegal gender modification, child abuse, and fraud at Texas Children’s Hospital that have been exposed by multiple whistleblowers, as well as the potential illegal selective prosecution of those whistleblowers, who are Texans, by federal officials, and (2) to examine whether illegal aliens who have committed capital murder in Texas under Penal Code section 19.03, including the recent capital murder of twelve-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston by two illegal aliens from Venezuela, are being prosecuted to the fullest extent possible and being held without bail if warranted.”
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