AUSTIN, Texas—The opening of the 88th Texas legislative session this week was just as tense as any Western high-noon showdown.
Grass-root Texas conservatives flocked to Austin this week wearing “Ban Democratic Chairs” T-shirts to protest against the appointment of chairs from the minority party to House committees.
They left disappointed on Jan. 11 after attempts to block the practice failed.
When the 88th Texas legislative session got underway on Jan. 10, staunch conservatives faced off with incumbent House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont. Their beef: Phelan has publicly defended appointing chairmanships to Democrats, who are in the minority.
Republicans in the state have been growing more vocal against the practice, which they say results in the unnecessary death of many bills moving through the Republican-led Texas legislature….