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Dade Phelan

The latest Dade Phelan news from The Texas Tribune.

Conservative PAC leader’s meeting with white supremacist Nick Fuentes leads to condemnations, escalates GOP infighting

By Robert Downen Updated: Oct. 9, 2023

House Speaker Dade Phelan called on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other officials to redirect any money they received from the PAC. Patrick called on Phelan to resign. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Primary threats loom over House Republicans as lawmakers again consider school vouchers

By Patrick Svitek Oct. 9, 2023

Gov. Greg Abbott promised that if House Republicans block school choice again, he’d go after them in the primaries Full Story

Credit: Angela Piazza/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via REUTERS
Ken Paxton endorses candidates challenging House Republicans who impeached him

By Patrick Svitek Oct. 6, 2023

Paxton’s campaign promised more details soon on a “statewide Fall tour,” including campaign stops with the candidates. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Rep. John Smithee emerges as House hero among Paxton supporters, floated for speaker

By Patrick Svitek Sept. 27, 2023

On the day the House impeached Ken Paxton, Smithee delivered a 20 minute speech, criticizing the impeachment process as opaque, rushed and unfair to the accused. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Paxton critics pile on, calling impeachment trial rigged

By Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 24, 2023

House Speaker Dade Phelan wrote an op-ed for his hometown newspaper, saying the “fix was in from the start,” while other Republican officials are calling for Phelan’s resignation. Full Story

Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune
Ken Paxton verdict heightens political tension ahead of education special session

By Patrick Svitek Sept. 19, 2023

The Texas House and Senate were already far apart on “school choice.” Anger over the impeachment trial might make it even harder to find common ground. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
Ken Paxton emerges victorious from yet another career scandal

By Patrick Svitek Sept. 17, 2023

It marked a screaming milestone in a two-decade political career that has seen Paxton harness the state’s increasingly conservative politics — and later the rise of Donald Trump — to stay in power longer than his vulnerabilities would suggest. Full Story

Credit: Juan Figueroa/Pool via The Dallas Morning News
Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial escalates Texas Republican civil war

By Robert Downen Sept. 16, 2023

Paxton’s far-right supporters doubled down on their promises for swift retribution against fellow Republicans who supported his removal from office. Full Story

Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune
For Paxton lawyers, the trial was a “sham.” House managers say it exposed a “corrupt politician.”

By Karen Brooks Harper and Robert Downen Sept. 16, 2023

Finally freed of a gag order, the opposing sides pulled no punches after the attorney general was acquitted. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Dan Patrick, Dade Phelan trade potshots after impeachment trial ends

By Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 16, 2023

The lieutenant governor criticized the House for a secretive and rushed process that “wasted” taxpayer dollars. The House speaker fired back, saying Patrick confessed his bias and contempt. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
“Let’s clean house”: Paxton tells supporters to lead charge in removing his Republican rivals who impeached him

By Joshua Fechter Sept. 2, 2023

Paxton named House Speaker Dade Phelan, a fellow Republican, in his brief remarks Saturday in North Texas. The suspended attorney general faces a trial Tuesday that would remove him from office permanently. Full Story

Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune
After property-tax deal, Speaker Dade Phelan weighs in on leadership relations, next special session, reelection

By Patrick Svitek Aug. 10, 2023

Rapport among the state’s top three Republicans has greatly improved, the House leader said, but another relationship-testing special session awaits on contentious education issues. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
TribCast: Texas lawmakers approve property tax cuts after 7 months of trying

By Matthew Watkins and Justin Dehn July 14, 2023

In this week’s episode, we discuss the winners and losers — politically and financially — after lawmakers approved an $18 billion tax cut bill. Full Story

Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune
Property tax special session is over, but months of acrimony could complicate Texas lawmakers’ mission as more work awaits

By Patrick Svitek July 14, 2023

Efforts to repair rifts, particularly among Republican leaders, begin as another contentious special session looms on Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for “school choice.” Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
Long-awaited $18 billion property tax-cut deal heads to Gov. Greg Abbott

By Karen Brooks Harper Updated: July 13, 2023

House Democrats attempted to insert benefits for renters and more money for public education into the tax-cuts package in a series of floor amendments but were unsuccessful. Full Story

Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
Texas House and Senate reach a deal on how to cut property taxes

By Karen Brooks Harper and Joshua Fechter Updated: July 10, 2023

The deal would channel $12 billion to reduce the school property tax rate for homeowners and business properties, increase the homestead exemption, and create a pilot program to reduce taxes on certain residential and commercial properties. The legislation is expected to pass later this week. Full Story

Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune
As Texas lawmakers tussle over property tax relief, it’s unclear whether renters will benefit

By Joshua Fechter Updated: July 6, 2023

Texas’ top Republicans are fighting over how to split property tax cuts between businesses and homeowners. Democrats want renters to see relief, too. Full Story

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
A property tax deal has eluded Texas lawmakers. Here’s where things stand at the start of another special session.

By Joshua Fechter June 28, 2023

Top Republicans promised property tax cuts, but have been locked in standoffs on how to achieve it. Gov. Greg Abbott has called another overtime legislative session in hopes of solidifying a plan. Full Story

Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune
First special session ends with no new laws, Texas lawmakers still deadlocked on property taxes

By James Barragán and Patrick Svitek Updated: June 27, 2023

Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called lawmakers back to the Capitol for round two, hoping to break an impasse that has outlasted the regular session and one overtime period. Full Story

Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune
Texas senators include more property tax cuts for businesses in new pitch to break impasse with House

By Joshua Fechter Updated: June 20, 2023

The Senate’s latest proposal is an apparent effort to appease Gov. Greg Abbott and the lower chamber. The state’s top Republicans have been at odds for months over how to use the state’s historic budget surplus to cut property taxes. Full Story

Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune