We have to wonder how the Speaker of the Texas House get re-elected to the Speaker post. Sounds like a corrupt scoundrel. The republican reps who vote for him have to be asked to explain their votes.
Probably involved the the old Bush charm, a couple of BBQs with liquor and some fringe benefits. They're in the house so they are probably cheap and easy. "I got a deal for you. Keep up the good work and we're gonna have to make you a Senator one of these days."
“We have to wonder how the Speaker of the Texas House get re-elected to the Speaker post.”
Here in Texas it’s the same system as the US House Speaker - meaning that ALL representatives get to vote on the Speaker, not just the majority party. So, for the past 3 decades or so, the Speaker has ALWAYS had full support of the Democrats and just needed a handful of Republicans to then take the post. In essence, the DEMOCRATS, despite being in the minority, controlled who was Speaker of the Texas House.
The Texas House Republicans also voted overwhelmingly to impeach Paxton. I'm not informed enough about Texas politics to say just how these Republicans were swayed (by the Bush wing) to go after Paxton, but it seems that sway didn't carry over to the Senate Republicans.