You need to look at this. viewtopic.php?f=125&t=62468Scott Farkus wrote:Why is it that Democrats even get appointed to chair committees? Hasn't the Texas House been majority Republican for some time? I always thought the committee make-up was in proportion to the party in charge, and that the committee chairs were members of the majority party? At least that's how it is in Washington - why is Texas different?Charles L. Cotton wrote:I hate the phrase "guardedly optimistic" because it's so over used, but it applies to my feelings at this time. Many people, me included, were very concerned about the appointment of an El Paso Democrat, Joe Pickett, as Chairman of the House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee. It appeared to play into the hands of liberal, anti-gun Democrats because that is the most important House committee for gun owners in Texas.
In addition to controlling the bills, Speaker Strauss also controls the committee chair positions. In many ways, he has more power than the Governor. You are correct that the party in power should be in control but Strauss has formed a coalition of some GOP and Democrats to keep HIM in power. He has to reward the contributing Dems for their support of him.
Until a different Speaker is elected, it is going to be the same thing over and over and over. The Republicans control the Texas House in name only. Strauss marches to his own drummer.