Texas has a House speaker, what’s next? | Texas: The Issue Is

For the start of the new legislative session, the FOX Texas Trio traveled to Austin. They discuss the goals of the most recent session and their expectations with Representatives Chris Turner (D-Arlington) and Mano Deayala (R-Houston).


    • The Texas legislature went back to work last week with a contentious House speaker election.

    • While Democrats see the election of Dustin Burrows as a win. There’s real concern that they could lose committee chair appointments.

    • Republicans are facing their own problems after the speaker vote furthered the party’s division.

  • The Texas legislature went back to work last week with a contentious House speaker election.

  • While Democrats see the election of Dustin Burrows as a win. There’s real concern that they could lose committee chair appointments.

  • Republicans are facing their own problems after the speaker vote furthered the party’s division.

Austin, TexasAlthough Austin’s first week of a new legislative session is over, there was still some drama and excitement.

Republicans fought among themselves after Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) was elected House Speaker, while Democrats were hopeful but worried about what would happen to their committee chairs.

Texas: The Problem IsTrio met with representatives to discuss the future of both parties while in Austin at the beginning of the session.

Rep. Chris Turner (D-Arlington)

Representative Chris Turner

FOX4’s Steven Dial: Which issue worries you the most? This will not be an easy session, even though you have Burrows in the Speaker chair.

Turner: This session will be no different from the hard battles we are accustomed to. How we will sufficiently fund our schools is the main issue that worries me. Texas’s public schools receive inadequate funding.

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FOX26’s Greg Groogan: Burrows’ election as speaker is being hailed by state party officials as a victory against radicalism. Without Democratic support, it would not have been possible. Do you think that description is accurate?

TurnerI’m happy that Speaker Burrows will be speaking. Ken Paxton and other Republican Party of Texas extremists, as well as some members of the House who merely wish to exclude Democrats from the legislative process entirely and enact extreme, dangerous ideas that are encapsulated in the Republican Party of Texas platform, were defeated. The Burrows triumph, in my opinion, is a win over them.

FOX7’s Rudy Koski: Everyone must be able to find some common ground. Is it water? Does it include transportation?

READ MORE: The most important problems for Texans as a new legislative session gets underway

Turner: Water and transportation concerns have historically brought us together in the House. Public education must come first, but perhaps we can do that again. I’m hoping that both parties would support providing our public schools with the assistance they require.

Koski: Due to school choice, ESA, or whatever else it may be, that will be the battle. Are you in favor of universal plans of any kind?

The proponents of vouchers are everywhere, Turner said. There should be widespread support for public education.

Groogan: According to Rep. Ann Johnson, states that have implemented vouchers are experiencing buyer’s remorse due to the expense. Is that a valid point of contention?

Turner: It’s exactly what Rep. Johnson said. The majority of voucher users in Arizona and Florida are already enrolling their children in private schools, therefore it isn’t attracting many new students to these institutions. There are serious issues with accountability, cost containment, and the programs’ out-of-control cost growth and significant budgetary impact.

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Rep. Mano DeAyala (R-Houston)

Mano Deayala, Rep.

Groogan It was a heated debate amongst the speakers. You have the ability to mediate some calm. How is that accomplished?

DeAyala: The good news is that it’s over. We have an excellent speaker. There is some healing to be done by the caucus. For a while now, the caucus has been required to do that. To advance for the state of Texas and our districts, people must be sincere, real, and have the correct motivations.

Groogan: Is that possible if individuals like Attorney General Ken Paxton continue to fuel the flames?

DeAyala: You would think it would make things difficult, but when you are taking arrows from everyone, it actually serves as a unifying factor. I hope that neither the Attorney General nor anybody else is pointing fingers at us any more.

Koski: Is school choice the low hanging fruit that Republicans can unite behind, in your opinion?

DeAyala: Though I doubt you can pinpoint a single factor, I believe school choice will serve as a unifier. It was more about style and respect for the institution than it was about policy differences. Those who desire a particular action from the institution It was neither doctrine nor policy.

READ MORE: Texas Legislature: This session’s major concerns include the border, cannabis, and school vouchers

Koski: As far as the GOP party leadership is concerned, it’s RINO vs. How do we mend it and persuade the party leadership to change their mind?

DeAyala: That group is the Republican Party of Texas. They say things that are regrettable. It is untrue, and I would advise Republicans to seriously consider the statements made by the Texas party’s head. That’s not what anyone wants to say. I hope they behave differently.

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Dial The red meat in the Speaker campaign has been getting rid of party chairs. Why is ending it so crucial?

DeAyala: The dominant party rules, but the minority party has a say. What does that voice look like, then? I just need to mention one to silence anyone who tells me that a conservative policy was shut down due of Democratic chairs. Although I believe that period is coming to an end, the minority party must continue to have a voice, and this session will show how that voice reflects and represents.

Texas: The Issue Is is available on TV every Sunday night and at any time on FOX LOCAL.

The Origin:Interviews with Representatives Chris Turner and Mano Deayala provided the information for this piece.

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