As the Democrat coalition that controls the Texas House rushed to suspend the rules and set a hearing for legislation to overhaul the school finance system, one conservative member stood up and was met with physical retaliation.
State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R–Bedford) tweeted that he opposed the House Speaker Joe Straus’s move to suspend the rules and was met with physical intimidation by Straus’s chief attack-dog, State Rep. Dennis Bonnen (R–Angleton).
Today I stood up for TX kids and transparency. Then I was assaulted on the #txlege floor by Speaker Pro Tem Dennis Bonnen.
— Jonathan Stickland (@RepStickland) March 6, 2017
While I was trying to protect the rights of my constituents to petition their government, Bonnen put his hands on me and shoved me. #txlege
— Jonathan Stickland (@RepStickland) March 6, 2017
Texas Scorecard has submitted open records requests seeking the chamber’s video and audio recordings from this afternoon.
As for Stickland, he says that being attacked by Bonnen was “worth it” after he was able secure a concession from the House leadership team that additional hearings will be held on the school finance legislation.
Totally worth it. Leadership has agreed to hold a second hearing next week. Now Texans have time to read and plan to testify. #txlege #HB21
— Jonathan Stickland (@RepStickland) March 6, 2017
With a senate committee hearing on the Texas Privacy Act sure to dominate tomorrow’s media coverage, school finance legislation would likely be able to fly under the radar and away from citizen testimony.
By securing additional hearings on the legislation, Stickland has protected much needed input from parents, teachers, and administrators and ensured that the process that protects citizens input is upheld.
