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The Blast: David Cook expands his camp [1]
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Date: 2024-12
Dec 2, 2024 | View in browser
By Renzo Downey and The Texas Tribune Politics Team
5 days until the December Texas House Republican Caucus meeting
12 days until the 2025 moratorium on political contributions
43 days until the 89th Legislature convenes
Spiller backs Cook After a couple quiet months, there’s concrete movement within the Texas House Republican Caucus regarding the speaker’s race.
State Rep. David Spiller of Jacksboro this morning came out in support of “reform” candidate David Cook of Mansfield over Speaker Dade Phelan.
“David Cook possesses the leadership skills, integrity, knowledge, discernment and fairness necessary to be speaker of the Texas House,” Spiller said in a statement.
Spiller said Cook won’t give chairmanships to Democrats next year and that he will only support a speaker candidate who shares that philosophy. However, he acknowledged the conservative victories under Phelan’s leadership.
“While I appreciate and respect the leadership of Speaker Dade Phelan these past two legislative sessions, it is time for a change,” Spiller said.
Cook’s supporters say Spiller getting on board is a “big deal.” Spiller will be serving his third term in the House, and he served on the House General Investigating Committee, which began the impeachment proceedings against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
That brings Cook to 48 supposed supporters, including himself. It takes 53 of the 88 incoming members to win the caucus’ endorsement at the vote set to take place on Saturday.
Lots of members are in town this week for legislative meetings, fundraisers and freshman orientation. If the ground is going to shift in the speaker’s race, expect it to happen now.
Phelan was in Austin today for his own fundraiser at the Four Seasons in downtown Austin. The Blast saw some familiar faces, including former House Speaker Joe Straus. Reps. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi and Morgan Meyer of University Park strolled in together about an hour into the program. Outgoing Rep. Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches was also there.
Attendees said the speaker had a steady stream of donors there to say hello.
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Wu joins Bryant in challenging TMF on Dem side Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Rep. Gene Wu of Houston has jumped into the race challenging Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio as chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. That splits the Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus just hours after the group’s leadership backed John Bryant of Dallas, who jumped into the race last week.
“Today, I offer you what I tried to do as the first vice chair of our caucus: modernize the HDC, better prepare for legislation in committee and on the House floor, coordinated effective defensive strategies, implement a professional communication division, provide effective support for members trying to pass and kill legislation, and amplify the expertise and hard work of the members within our caucus,” Wu wrote in an email obtained by The Blast.
Wu’s announcement came mere hours after Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus Chair Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos of Richardson published a statement that the outside Texas Progressive Caucus and the TLPC supports Bryant.
Curious timing, huh?
Initially, it wasn’t clear that each of the 10 House members in the TLPC consented to the statement before Rodríguez Ramos published it. Wu’s announcement settled that.
In an email to caucus members shortly before Rodríguez Ramos posted the letter, TLPC caucus executive director Cody Meador said the caucus signed on to the outside Texas Progressive Caucus’ letter “as our Caucus derives our legitimacy and power from our grassroots.”
“We encourage our members to share our support and have supportive conversations with colleagues over the coming days,” Meador said in the email, which was obtained by The Blast.
Bryant’s office has not yet confirmed his list of supporters. However, a cohort of Democrats who, like Bryant, want the Democratic Caucus to be a stronger resistance against Republican leadership could make Phelan’s path to 76 a little harder in January.
The Democratic Caucus will meet Wednesday to choose its chair and other officers. Suleman Lalani of Sugar Land and Ron Reynolds of Missouri City are looking for separate vice chair positions.
Miller talks potential Trump admin role Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller still thinks he could land a role in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
Miller told The Blast he has been in talks with Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about possible roles in or assisting the Trump administration. Miller wouldn’t get into specifics, but he’s interested in working on something to do with international trade or specifically agriculture trade.
He’s not looking for a deputy secretary role, and he’s not necessarily looking for something in the Department of Agriculture. Potentially, Miller could serve in more of an advisory role that would let him keep his elected office, which he’s held for 10 years.
Miller had been mentioned as a possible candidate to lead the USDA, but Trump last week announced that he would nominate Brooke Rollins to lead the department.
Rollins grew up in Texas and was previously the CEO of the Austin-based Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. She is president of the America First Policy Institute, which promotes Trump’s policy initiatives.
“Brooke is a staunch Trump ally. She’s an ally. A Texan,” Miller said.
— Pooja Salhotra and Renzo Downey
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McCaul summons Blinken Secretary of State Antony Blinken will testify before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee at the behest of Chair Michael McCaul, an Austin Republican who has pilloried the Biden administration over the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
Blinken will appear at a Dec. 11 committee hearing, where McCaul is expected to rake him over the coals for the chaotic withdrawal that has become a stain on the administration’s record. McCaul has been working to secure Blinken’s testimony for months, including a subpoena that McCaul said Blinken failed to honor.
“It’s unfortunate the secretary agreed to appear only after my committee advanced contempt proceedings against him,” McCaul said in a statement. “While I wish he had not delayed this crucial appearance until the end of his tenure as head of the State Department, I look forward to hearing his testimony and asking poignant questions to help House Republicans and the next administration ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”
McCaul led the House Republican investigation into the Afghanistan withdrawal, which found that the administration was unprepared and ignored warnings that led to the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country. The Biden administration has defended itself as following all necessary protocols and withdrawing based on an agreement negotiated by the previous administration.
— Matthew Choi
HIDDEN IMAGE Next week: The House Administration Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Monday. View the list of upcoming meeting notices here and here.
Get an inside look at state lawmakers’ top priorities at “A preview of the 2025 Legislative Session,” happening in Austin and online Wednesday, Dec. 4. Hear from 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.
The event is free and open to the public. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Confirmed speakers include: State Sen. Molly Cook , D-Houston, and state Rep. Don McLaughlin , R-Uvalde, as part of a “Meet the New Members” panel moderated by Renzo Downey , lead writer of The Blast for The Texas Tribune
, D-Houston, and state Rep. , R-Uvalde, as part of a “Meet the New Members” panel moderated by , lead writer of The Blast for The Texas Tribune State Rep.-elect Mitch Little , R-Denton, and state Rep. J.M. Lozano , R-Kingsville, in conversation with Tribune politics reporter James Barragán on the Republican agenda for the 2025 session
, R-Denton, and state Rep. , R-Kingsville, in conversation with Tribune politics reporter on the Republican agenda for the 2025 session State Rep. Gina Hinojosa , D-Austin, and state Rep. Erin Zwiener , D-Driftwood, in conversation with Rebekah Allen , the Tribune’s managing editor for enterprise and politics, on the Democratic agenda for the 2025 session
, D-Austin, and state Rep. , D-Driftwood, in conversation with , the Tribune’s managing editor for enterprise and politics, on the Democratic agenda for the 2025 session Laura Colangelo, executive director of the Texas Private Schools Association; Brian Guenther, president, San Marcos Academy; Bob Popinski, senior director of policy for Raise Your Hand Texas; and Michelle Rinehart, superintendent of the Alpine Independent School District, in conversation with Jaden Edison, public education reporter for The Texas Tribune RSVP today
HIDDEN IMAGE The Texas House Democratic Caucus will hold its fundraiser on Wednesday at The Austin Club.
The Senate Democratic Caucus will hold its fundraiser at The Austin Club on Dec. 12.
HIDDEN IMAGE U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul last week celebrated the release of Houstonian Mark Swidan , who was imprisoned in China.
and and U.S. Rep. last week celebrated the release of Houstonian , who was imprisoned in China. Speaking on the Senate floor today, Cornyn called it “blatant corruption and an abuse of the office” for President Joe Biden to pardon his son, Hunter Biden.
HIDDEN IMAGE Gov. Greg Abbott will deliver remarks tomorrow on the state’s emergency preparedness efforts and thank Stanley Black & Decker for its donation to support the state’s disaster response and recovery operations. Stanley Black & Decker CEO Don Allan, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp and others will join Abbott at the Disaster City training facility tomorrow in College Station.
HIDDEN IMAGE Do you or someone in your office have a new job you’d like mentioned? Email us. Gov. Greg Abbott today swore in Freeman F. Martin as director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
today swore in Freeman F. Martin as director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Abbott appointed his office’s assistant general counsel, Benjamin Barkley, as chief executive and public counsel of the Office of Public Utility Counsel for a term expiring Feb. 1.
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HIDDEN IMAGE HIDDEN IMAGE
HIDDEN IMAGE Do you or someone in your office have a birthday you’d like mentioned? Email us.
(Dec. 2) State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills
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