Texas House Leadership Sidesteps Full House Vote

In a move that bypasses traditional legislative procedures and disrespects taxpayers, the Texas House Administration Committee has unilaterally approved significant budget increases for legislative offices, including a controversial new stipend for Democrat vice chairs. This decision was made without a vote from the full House, setting a dangerous precedent for unchecked government spending. 

A Backroom Power Grab

Changes to House budgets are typically passed through a housekeeping resolution, which requires approval in a full House vote. However, Speaker Dustin Burrows and House leadership circumvented this process, allowing the House Administration Committee, chaired by State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) to implement the increases without input from the full legislative body.

With zero transparency and no recorded votes from the full chamber, the committee approved:

• A $2,000 monthly increase to session office budgets.
• A $1,000 monthly increase to interim office budgets.
• The elimination of staff salary caps.
• An increase in the annual carryover of unused funds to $30,000.
• A new $5,000 monthly stipend for the 30 Democrat vice chairs of House committees—totaling $3.6 million over the biennium.

This unprecedented move gives more power and resources to democrat committee members and staff, and consolidates financial decision-making in the hands of a select few rather than allowing the people’s elected representatives to have a say.

Taxpayer Dollars for Political Favoritism?

Perhaps the most controversial part of this spending spree is the new vice chair stipend. Until now, vice chairs have never received an extra stipend—yet House leadership decided, without a full vote, to hand out $5,000 per month to Democrat vice chairs. That’s $60,000 per year per vice chair—all funded by Texas taxpayers.

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) calls the move “an insult to taxpayers.” It should be noted how quickly the legislature moves when spending more of the people’s money, contrasting it with the sluggish pace of meaningful taxpayer relief and reforms.

State Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth) also blasted the decision, stating:

“For the 1st time, House Administration just gave 30 Dem Vice Chair offices a $5k/month raise… WITHOUT a vote of the body!! This leadership team is committed to backroom deals… I’m committed to exposing them.”

A New Era of Government Waste?

This move sends a clear message: Texas House leadership is comfortable expanding government spending behind closed doors while claiming fiscal responsibility in public.

By bypassing the full House vote and consolidating spending power within the House Administration Committee, legislative leadership has weakened transparency and eroded trust in the appropriations and democratic process.

The decision to prioritize office budgets and Democrat vice chair stipends over priority legislation and taxpayer relief is a slap in the face to hardworking Texans. With no salary caps, increased budgets, and millions in new stipends, the question taxpayers should ask is:

What will they try to give themselves next?

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