Here We Go: Major Texas Democrat Stripped of Leadership Post for Fleeing the State

PJ Media ^ | 07/15/2021 | Bryan Preston

[DFG]

State Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso) has been stripped of his position as speaker pro tem in the Texas House following his decision to flee the state in order to stymie the ongoing special session that Gov. Greg Abbott called.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, announced the removal of Moody as speaker pro tem in a memo Thursday morning before the House was set to return on Thursday. He gave no statement but said the removal was effective immediately.

“The most important titles in my life will never change: Dad, Husband, El Pasoan,” Moody said in a statement. “Nothing political has ever even cracked the top three, so nothing has changed about who I am or what my values are.”

Moody is (or was) one of Speaker Phelan’s closest Democrat allies. Two of the terms he used to describe himself — Dad and husband — are gender-specific terms forbidden by the rules adopted by the Democratic leadership in the United States House of Representatives.

Calls to strip Democrats who fled Texas from their House leadership posts have been growing throughout the week. Texas Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi clarified that yes, leaders appointed to their posts by Speaker Dade Phelan can be stripped of their leadership assignments. Moody is the first Democrat known to be subjected to it. Speaker Phelan did not start small with this move.

[Cottonpatch]

I see he left out Son and Christian…guess those aren’t important.

[Billthedrill]

Two of the terms he used to describe himself — Dad and husband — are gender-specific terms forbidden by the rules adopted by the Democratic leadership in the United States House of Representatives.

Well, I for one am shocked. The heretic must burn!

[abbastanza]

Let me answer your question. No, the Republicans don’t have the courage to do anything under Section 41. Besides, if they did, there would be a Judge somewhere that would stop them.

[Political Junkie Too]

It's Texas, and this is their Constitution.

Even if the Democrats found a judge to block it, their Constitution is supreme and the Texas Supreme Court would defend the legislature in the end.

-PJ

[servantboy777]

Right on! Strip the dems of all leadership in Texas.

[zeugma]

I’ll bet money that it is temporary, and he’ll get the title back whenever he comes back.

[bert]

When they fail to assemble, declare them to have vacated their positions. Call the quorum

of those present and proceed

[BoringGuy]

Look at Doggett’s (gerrymandered) district. it is carefully crafted to pull in some of the most liberal portions of Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio using the I-35 corridor (carefully avoiding residential areas to connect). It is a safe district for him.