Friday, three Texas House lawmakers called on both the Texas House Speaker, Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and State Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction) to conduct a “complete audit and providing an itemized account of taxpayer funds spent on the impeachment investigation and trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton.”

Those lawmakers include Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) Taxpayer Champions State Reps. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) and Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands), as well as State Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Ft. Worth).

They join a similar request by Taxpayer Champion State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) and an already ongoing request by Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick (R) of the State Auditor following the failed impeachment trial which concluded in September resulting in Paxton’s acquittal.

“In light of the claim that the House’s investigation into Attorney General Paxton was made over a sum of close to $3 million, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called for an audit into the cost of this investigation and prosecution. We agree with the Lieutenant Governor and a recent statement made by Representative Brian Harrison that taxpayers deserve transparency in this matter, as it appears that members of the legislature pursued baseless claims made against a duly elected Attorney General for political purposes and used taxpayers’ money to do it.”

Letter to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, October 6, 2023

State lawmakers are set to return for a third-called special legislative session on Monday, October 9th, where tensions are already expected to be high between both legislative chambers. It remains unclear as to whether the House will follow through with its own audit.

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