The Texas Tribune is holding a week-long event entitled “A Preview of the 2021 Legislative Session.” This report covers “The Presumptive Speaker Phelan Administration” in which Rep. Button, Rep. Hunter, and Rep. Moody discuss how presumptive Speaker of the House Rep. Dade Presumptive Speaker Phelan will impact the agenda and the workings of the lower chamber. A video of this discussion can be found here.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
Moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of the Texas Tribune
- Smith – Have questions about the new presumptive Speaker of the House, Dade Phelan
- Smith – Brought in early supporters of Presumptive Speaker Phelan: Rep. Angie Chen Button, Rep. Todd Hunter, and Rep. Joe Moody
- Smith – Why Rep. Phelan, why did you come out as an early supporter?
- Hunter – Has great experience, started as a staff member in the house and has risen in the capitol
- Hunter – Has worked with Presumptive Speaker Phelan in multiple committees
- Smith – Would you have thought of him to be Speaker of the House previously?
- Button – Yes, is qualified to lead us since next session will be stressful and tough
- Button – Provides an anecdote of Rep. Presumptive Speaker Phelan who was willing to take time to work with people and is trustworthy
- Smith – Is it true that members of the House all believe they can be speaker? Why were you an early supporter of Presumptive Speaker Phelan?
- Moody – True, and Presumptive Speaker Phelan has proven that he is a leader and is trust worthy
- Smith – What about this speakership in relationship to the last?
- Moody – Every session is a different session and individuals have their own relationships; last session there was a lot of success within the body and are the building blocks to move forward
- Smith – Hunter, have served under many different speakers; how do you put this potential speaker up against Speaker Bonnen?
- Hunter – Both have different leadership styles; Presumptive Speaker Phelan knows how to “call balls and strikes” like Speaker Bonnen
- Smith – Button, were trust issues with the previous speakers; will Presumptive Speaker Phelan address these issues?
- Button – Speaker Straus was very sincere, Speaker Bonnen was very dynamic and vocal, Presumptive Speaker Presumptive Speaker Phelan is sincere, approachable, and trustworthy
- Smith – Hunter, Tribune article noted that Presumptive Speaker Phelan has been acclaimed to be trustworthy and willing to work across the aisle; correct?
- Hunter – Yes, he reaches out to all the members and we look forward to working with him
- Smith – Hunter, you understand that working across the sides is important?
- Hunter – Yes, Presumptive Speaker Phelan will be reaching out to all 150 members
- Smith – Moody, did you endorse him because he is willing to work with both sides? You are confident enough to work with him?
- Moody – Would like to pick a Democrat one day, but we know there will be differences in opinion and will have to compromise
- Moody – Differences exist even in the Democratic caucus; issues come up, and we have to work through them
- Smith – Did you get assurances that Democrats would be granted chairmanships?
- Moody – Phelan did not make those assurances in the speaker’s race
- Smith – Notes that assurances like that happen all of the time
- Moody – Knows that Presumptive Speaker Phelan will honor giving the minority party chairmanships because of his character
- Smith – Noted bill from last session in which Presumptive Speaker Phelan gave support to the LGBTQ community and he got flack from the Republican party, will everyone be able to come together on key issues?
- Hunter – Yes, should come together on a majority of the issues
- Smith – Button, will Presumptive Speaker Phelan be able to come up against the Senate and Dan Patrick to be able to protect house interests?
- Button – Yes, is able to build coalitions quickly; next session we will focus on the big items and need to work together
- Button – Is soft-spoken and relatively young, but is able to come toe to toe with the Senate
- Smith – Moody, Speaker Bonnen was able to be extremely focused, such as his work on HB 3, what will Presumptive Speaker Phelan be focused on?
- Moody – Will be a very different session because of how we interact; may change the rules for members to have virtual testimony
- Moody – Legislature will be focused on health and the economy; the response and recovery to the pandemic will be top issues
- Smith – Hunter, can Presumptive Speaker Phelan follow through on a session that is so focused on these issues?
- Hunter – Yes, the key is that you have an experienced individual