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The Blast: Cook punts fundraiser till after caucus vote [1]

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Date: 2024-11

Nov 20, 2024 | View in browser

By Renzo Downey and The Texas Tribune Politics Team

17 days until the December Texas House Republican Caucus meeting

24 days until the 2025 moratorium on political contributions

55 days until the 89th Legislature convenes

Cook reschedules fundraiser Today, Capitol observers learned we’ve lost what could have been an early indicator about the state of the race between House Speaker Dade Phelan and reform candidate David Cook.

The Texas House Republican Caucus still plans to meet on Saturday, Dec. 7, to endorse its candidate for speaker, but Cook’s Austin fundraiser has been pushed back from Tuesday, Dec. 3, to Monday, Dec. 9. As of now, Phelan still plans to hold his Monday, Dec. 2, fundraiser.

The dueling fundraisers would have been good indicators about the state of the race. If Cook received strong turnout, that would suggest that donors sense the winds are changing. If Cook’s fundraiser was a dud, well, they might sense the race could be over.

Phelan has a good chance at getting reelected, so why would donors, lobbyists and consultants want to cross Chief of Staff Mike Toomey and former Gov. Rick Perry and risk losing a spot at the table? And even if Cook wins and Phelan is gone, Toomey won’t be gone.

A more generous interpretation could be that a Dec. 3 fundraiser may have been a tough ask for potential donors, given the politics at play. And if Cook does win the caucus vote, he wouldn’t be able to capitalize on the financial windfall for besting Phelan, like he would if the fundraiser took place the following Monday.

A third explanation is that by uncoupling the fundraiser from the race, those who support member Cook but are softer about supporting a speaker Cook won’t be forced to make a choice. If Cook has future political aspirations, the upcoming reception will be his last chance to raise cash before June, given the moratorium that begins Dec. 14.

Cook and his office did not share his reasons for rescheduling the fundraiser with The Blast.

So, it’s back to sussing out the speaker’s race the old-fashioned way.

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Gaetz-gate on the Hill Erstwhile Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is continuing to stir drama on Capitol Hill, and the Texans are not spared.

Some background: President-elect Donald Trump named Gaetz to lead the Justice Department last week, to the chagrin of many Democrats and Republicans alike. Gaetz was under federal investigation and a probe by the House Ethics Committee amid allegations that he engaged in sex trafficking, including with minors. The federal investigation closed last year, but the Ethics Committee continued its probe until Gaetz resigned from office last week, although the committee voted today to complete the report.

The committee was not able to reach the needed majority of votes to release its report, Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest told reporters as he left the meeting. Many members of Congress from both parties wanted the report made public to better inform the confirmation process. Gaetz was also one of the most reviled members of the House, picking fights and making enemies with members of both parties, so there is certainly some bad blood going around.

Here is where the Texans come in: Both of the state’s senators serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would vet Gaetz’s nomination. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz planned to meet with Gaetz today. Cornyn described his meeting as good and said he told Gaetz to prepare for a lot of questions. Cruz is set to meet with Gaetz this evening.

Cruz previously said — perhaps euphemistically — he was surprised by Gaetz’s nomination. Cornyn said he would want all possible information available to the Judiciary Committee, including the Ethics report. When asked about today’s Ethics Committee meeting concerning the report, Cornyn said it would be “necessary that we see that report, but it’s necessary we get the information which will come out, and I think it’s in Mr. Gaetz’s best interest for that information to come out early, rather than sort of drip, drip, drip.”

Cruz deferred opining on the report, saying it was the Ethics Committee’s call.

El Paso’s Rep. Veronica Escobar is the sole Texan on the House Ethics Committee. She has been tight-lipped about her work on Ethics, but Rep. Susan Wiles, the top Democrat on the committee, said she and all the other Democrats wanted the report released.

— Matthew Choi

Jasmine Crockett shoots and misses U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has broken out among Democrats as an effective messenger to new audiences on novel platforms. Her confrontations in committee and fiery worded tweets have given her virality few members accomplish, let alone a freshman. She was given a spot on the Democratic National Convention stage and a seat as the Harris campaign co-chair.

But when she tried to direct that momentum into leading messaging for the House Democratic Caucus, her peers gave her a firm thank you, but no.

Crockett lost her bid Tuesday to be the chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. The group strategizes the caucus’ messaging.

Crockett’s run was an abnormal move. The current chair, Debbie Dingell of Michigan, is a seasoned member and had no intention of stepping out of the role. Crockett has never been a co-chair of the committee, usually a qualification for running for chair.

Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso, a current co-chair, ran for the chairmanship earlier this year but lost to Dingell. Escobar encouraged Crockett’s run, saying she would be “great”.

“This election should be a wake-up call that we need to radically change the way we message, and how we message and where we message. I think Jasmine is very talented,” Escobar said last week. Escobar didn’t run for any leadership roles in the next Congress.

After the election, Crockett said she would not make another run for the position.

“I offered services and they were not needed …” she posted on social media.

— Matthew Choi

In other Hill leadership news, the New Democrat Coalition selected U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, for vice chair for communications.

Sessions co-launches DOGE Caucus U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Waco, will co-chair the Elon Musk-inspired new Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency Caucus.

Sessions announced that he will co-chair the DOGE Caucus with U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Florida. They pledged to work with Musk’s and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency to eliminate “rampant waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government.”

Sessions, chair of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, said the U.S. Government Accountability Office reports that there have been over $2.7 trillion in fraud and improper payments since 2003.

“This is an absolutely unacceptable misuse of taxpayer dollars,” Sessions said in a statement. “Hardworking Americans deserve a government that works efficiently and effectively.”

Bean just won a second term in the U.S. House after having served in the Florida Legislature since 2000. In the Legislature, he was known as a faithful conservative with the personality of a golden retriever, fitting for a cause with a dog meme-inspired acronym.

Evidently, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has been following the DOGE developments.

“Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome: If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home,” Cornyn posted, quoting Musk and Ramaswamy’s op-ed in The Wall Street Journal.

HIDDEN IMAGE Republican Pat Curry of Waco was sworn in as a state representative Monday. He won both the general and special elections to complete the term of retired state Rep. Doc Anderson , R-Waco.

of Waco was sworn in as a state representative Monday. He won both the general and special elections to complete the term of retired state Rep. , R-Waco. The Texas House LGBTQ+ Caucus has elected Vice Chair Jessica González, D-Dallas, as their next chair, succeeding state Rep. Mary González, D-Clint. State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, will be the next vice chair.

Get an inside look at state lawmakers’ top priorities and what’s ahead for Texans at “A preview of the 2025 Legislative Session,” happening in Austin and online Wednesday, Dec. 4.

After the new year, state lawmakers will finally have their chance to draft legislation that responds — or doesn’t — to the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the state. What priorities are lawmakers working on in the 2025 Legislative Session?

Join us for conversations with newly elected officials, old-guard incumbents and other Capitol insiders on what’s ahead for the 2025 session and what it will mean for Texans.

Doors open at 8 a.m. at The University of Texas at Austin’s Thompson Conference Center for breakfast, and the program begins at 9 a.m. in person and online. The event concludes at 3:30 p.m. Panels and speakers will be announced soon.

RSVP today

HIDDEN IMAGE Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will hold a fundraising reception at The Austin Club tomorrow, followed by a fundraiser for the Texas Senate Republican Caucus later in the afternoon.

will hold a fundraising reception at The Austin Club tomorrow, followed by a fundraiser for the Texas Senate Republican Caucus later in the afternoon. The Texas House Democratic Caucus will hold its fundraiser on Dec. 4 in The Austin Club.

The Senate Democratic Caucus will hold its fundraiser at The Austin Club on Dec. 12.

HIDDEN IMAGE Outgoing U.S. Rep. Colin Allred , D-Dallas, about what’s next after losing his Senate bid: “Right now, I’m going to go see my family and spend time with them. I’ve got two little boys and ridiculously happily married, so I’m good.” Asked if he would run for office again, he laughed: “Merry Christmas.” — Matthew Choi

, D-Dallas, about what’s next after losing his Senate bid: “Right now, I’m going to go see my family and spend time with them. I’ve got two little boys and ridiculously happily married, so I’m good.” Asked if he would run for office again, he laughed: “Merry Christmas.” — Matthew Choi Gov. Greg Abbott yesterday directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to accept Mexico’s offer of 120,000 acre-feet of San Juan River water. Although it falls far short of the 1.75 million acre-feet Mexico is supposed to provide every five years, farmers and cities can’t wait any longer, according to the governor’s office. “Mexico’s blatant abuse and disregard of water obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty must not be allowed to continue,” Abbott said in a statement.

yesterday directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to accept Mexico’s offer of 120,000 acre-feet of San Juan River water. Although it falls far short of the 1.75 million acre-feet Mexico is supposed to provide every five years, farmers and cities can’t wait any longer, according to the governor’s office. “Mexico’s blatant abuse and disregard of water obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty must not be allowed to continue,” Abbott said in a statement. U.S. House leadership and members of the House Appropriations Committee celebrated the retirement of former Chair Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, which included the unveiling of a portrait that will hang in the committee’s main hearing room.

HIDDEN IMAGE Do you or someone in your office have a new job you’d like mentioned? Email us. Senior Deputy Director Freeman Martin will serve as the next executive director of the Texas Department of Public Safety beginning Dec. 1, succeeding Director Steve McCraw .

will serve as the next executive director of the Texas Department of Public Safety beginning Dec. 1, succeeding Director . State Rep.-elect Daniel Alders , R-Tyler, announced his top staff: Chief of staff: Daniel Friend , former reporter and marketing and media manager at The Texan Legislative director: Victoria Engman , former deputy legislative director to state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione , R-Southlake District director: Jack Short , a carryover from outgoing state Rep. Matt Schaefer , R-Tyler Legislative assistant: Robert Bennett : Recent UT Tyler grad and president of the Smith County Young Republicans and the College Republicans at The University of Texas at Tyler

, R-Tyler, announced his top staff: Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Beverly Ferguson of League City to the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners for a term set to expire in February 2027.

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HIDDEN IMAGE Do you or someone in your office have a birthday you’d like mentioned? Email us.

(Nov. 20) President Joe Biden

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