Texas House Speaker Metes out Punishment, as Democratic Theater of the Absurd Continues

As Texas Democrats continue to thoroughly embarrass themselves in Washington, D.C. by literally airing their dirty laundry online and posting cutesy “look at what I’ve eaten!” and “here’s who I met!” photos, Republican leaders in the state are starting to mete out the punishment.

House Speaker Dade Phelan posted notice Thursday that Democratic speaker pro tem Joe Moody had been stripped of the title under the rules of the Texas House.

“Pursuant to my authority under House Rule 1, Section 10, I have relieved Representative Joe Moody from his position as Speaker Pro Tempore for the 87th Legislature, effective immediately,” Phelan said in a written statement:

Just in: House Speaker @DadePhelan has relieved @moodyforelpaso from his position as speaker pro tempore #txlege pic.twitter.com/ztpDYr3hBa

— Cassi Pollock (@cassi_pollock) July 15, 2021

Moody tried pretending that it didn’t bother him that the “olive branch” offered 2 years ago by House Republicans to Democrats in the state legislature had just been pulled out from under him, posting this response:

The most important titles in my life will never change: Dad, Husband, El Pasoan. Nothing political has ever even cracked the top three, so nothing has changed about who I am or what my values are. #txlege https://t.co/RQ8mozCdwT

— Joe Moody (@moodyforelpaso) July 15, 2021

In addition to yanking his leadership post, Phelan also laid into Moody and his fellow House Democrats who he said “are stalling a 13th check for retired teachers,” and also called out the names of those who have held on to their daily taxpayer-funded per diem while sightseeing and showboating in Washington, D.C.:

Here’s my statement about those who are stalling a 13th check for retired teachers by breaking quorum and a list of those who have not taken steps to return their legislative per diem while they are in Washington. #txlege pic.twitter.com/adCCp99fwR

— Dade Phelan (@DadePhelan) July 15, 2021

In another statement issued Thursday, Phelan alerted House Democrats that he will have a charter plane on standby in Washington, D.C. this weekend, and that they needed to be on it.

“In an effort to further compel House Democrats to return to the State of Texas, I am chartering a plane that will be on standby in Washington, D.C. on Saturday,” Phelan wrote. “I am demanding all of our colleagues in D.C. to contact my staff immediately in order to secure their seat on the plane and return to Austin in order to do the state’s business. The State of Texas is waiting.”

A plane will be waiting Saturday in Washington for my colleagues ready to get to work. The State of Texas is waiting. #txlege pic.twitter.com/rnTaQPbpCd

— Dade Phelan (@DadePhelan) July 15, 2021

This is all well and good, but I was kinda sorta looking forward to the live news feeds of Texas Democrats arriving back in the state and being promptly arrested, with obnoxious jerk Gene Wu – who thinks it’s cool to make fun of a Republican colleague who has autism – among the first to get the handcuffs slapped on him.

Phelan’s remarks don’t mention anything about arrests, but I’m stocking up on the popcorn just in case…