The number of legislators calling for Governor Greg Abbott to convene a special session after several priority Republican bills died in the Texas House continues to grow.
One of the very first House members to call for a special session was State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R- Royse City). “I’m calling for an immediate special session to finish passing republican priority legislation,” said Slaton, who objected to the House recessing with important bills still left on the calendar.
Slaton has released a press release further explaining the reasons he thinks Abbott needs to call a special session:
State Rep. Jeff Cason (R-Bedford), who represents the district once held by Jonathan Stickland, and is in many respects his ideological successor, also wasted no time in demanding a special session:
“I am asking for Governor Greg Abbott to call a special session for June to prioritize Republican priorities: Ban tax-payer lobbying, school choice for all, monument protection, protecting our young children from gender modification, and true religious freedoms,” said Cason. “This session has failed to acknowledge these issues. The great people of Texas have sent us to Austin to strengthen conservative causes and make Texas the true beacon of freedom in America. I am extremely disappointed in my fellow Republicans for not standing up to the Texas Democrats and their radical leftist agenda that will bring social and economic ruin to our great state. It is time to do what we were sent to do in Austin and have the courage to champion our causes!”
State Reps. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) and Kyle Biederman (R-Fredericksburg) have also joined the call:
Biedermann explained:
“Last night, critical issues died on the House floor without being brought up for a vote. We had major bills on the calendar, like banning taxpayer funded lobbying, prohibiting online censorship, and protecting the integrity of women’s sports. It is inexcusable that a Republican House let this happen. Therefore, I am joining in calling on Governor Abbott to bring the Legislature into a special session to address the Republican priorities that were killed in the Texas House. Furthermore, special session must also address as an emergency item the crisis at our southern border. Republicans control all branches of state government. We can accomplish all of these items if we simply assert the power of our majority.”
Slaton, Cason, Tinderholt, and Biedermann would probably be considered the four most conservative members of the Texas House by most metrics. The Texas Freedom Caucus, which is slightly less conservative than the aforementioned House members, but nevertheless is still to the right of most House Republicans, has also released a statement asking for a special session. What will be interesting to see is whether or not House members closer to the House Republican Caucus median (and more closely aligned with leadership) decide to join the call, and if so, how long it will take them to do so.
Texas Citizen Journal 