LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP GOVT 2306, Module 7

Three Most Important Texans The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the Texas House are far and away the most powerful leaders in Texas politics. Who are these folks? Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker Joe Straus

Lieutenant governor The lieutenant governor is the foremost political leader of the Texas Senate. He or she is elected statewide to serve a four-year term. Republican Dan Patrick, a former radio talk show host from Houston, holds the job today. He won election in 2014, defeating incumbent David Dewhurst in the Republican primary. Patrick enjoys Tea Party and religious conservative support. Patrick’s legislative priorities are tax cuts, border security, school vouchers, limits on state spending, and more liberal gun laws.

Speaker of the House The speaker of the House is the foremost political leader of the Texas House. He is a member of the House who is elected by his fellow members to be speaker. With 150 members of the House, the speaker candidate who can line up 76 supporters wins the office. Today, Republican Joe Straus of San Antonio holds the job. Voting for speaker of the Texas House has never been along party lines.

Speaker Selection Candidates for speaker gather signed pledge cards from other members. The speaker is elected by the entire House, not just the members of the largest party.

Straus Ousts Craddick Straus won the job in 2009 by defeating Tom Craddick, the incumbent Republican speaker. Craddick had alienated all the Democrats and many Republicans with his dictatorial manner. Because the speaker is elected, he must keep a majority of the members of the House happy to keep the job. Tom Craddick, R. Midland,

Straus Victory Coalition In 2009, Straus was part of a group of 11 moderate Republicans looking for a candidate to support for speaker. The group decided to back Straus. Most House Democrats then jumped on the bandwagon and Straus soon had enough pledges to win. In 2009, the Texas House included 76 Republicans and 74 Democrats. That gave the Democrats influence.

Final vote The actual vote for speaker, which takes place at the beginning of a regular legislative session, is usually unanimous because most members don’t want to be on the speaker’s bad side. The actual vote for speaker is done publicly; there are no secret ballots.

Republican in Name Only Tea Party v. Joe Straus Tea Party activists want to oust Joe Straus as speaker. They tried and failed in 2011, 2013, and in 2015. The Tea Party opposes Straus because he won with Democratic support, his family has gambling interests, he is too moderate, and, for some, he is Jewish. Republican in Name Only What is a RINO?

Scott Turner ran for Speaker in 2015 Tea Party favorite Scott Turner ran for speaker against Straus in 2015. Even though Empower Texas promised to back primary challengers against Republicans who supported Straus, the speaker won reelection easily 128-19. (Three seats were vacant.)

The Speaker’s Priorities Speaker Straus’s legislative priorities are education, water development, and transportation.

Quiz Which of the following officials is NOT elected statewide? Speaker of the House Lieutenant governor Governor All of the above officials are elected statewide. The answer is A.

Powers of the leadership

Overview The speaker and lieutenant governor are two of the most powerful public officials in the state, exercising extraordinary authority in their respective chambers. The speaker and lieutenant governor control many of the legislative procedures of the Texas House and Texas Senate. Patrick and Straus

Leadership Powers Assign bills to committee Determine which bills come up for debate Preside over the floor Serve on and appoint members to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) Serve on the Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB) Appoint committee chairs Appoint most committee members So, if the speaker or lieutenant governor is mad at you, what can he do to get back at you? Put you on unimportant committees and block your legislative proposals.

Limits of Power The speaker and lieutenant governor base their authority on their ability to keep most members of the legislature happy. If enough members are unhappy with the speaker or lieutenant governor, they can face trouble from the membership, as Speaker Craddick discovered. House members have the authority to change leadership. Although senators cannot replace the lieutenant governor, they can strip the lieutenant governor of authority.

Leadership Teams Both the speaker and the lieutenant governor have a corps of supporters in the chamber that makes up their leadership team. The members of the leadership team advise the speaker or lieutenant governor and work to organize the full chamber to support the leadership's position. The speaker and lieutenant governor appoint the members of their leadership teams to chair the most important committees. The speaker and lieutenant governor also punish opponents by putting them on committees unrelated to their legislative goals. Rule of politics: Reward your friends; screw over your enemies.

What You Have Learned Who are the most important figures in the Texas legislature and how are they chosen? Why are both the governor and the lieutenant governor weakened? What powers do the speaker and lieutenant governor exercise?