The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - December 6, 2024

Episode Date: December 6, 2024

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Howdy folks, today is Friday, December 6, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lausches, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Speaker Dade Phelan is dropping out of the race for a third term, he told members on Thursday morning and afternoon. Speculation whizzed around yesterday that Phelan would step aside ahead of Saturday's House Republican caucus vote, and Phelan himself shrugged off those assertions to reporters on Thursday evening. It particularly revved up when State Representative Trent Ashby announced his support for the House Republican Reform Group's endorsed candidate, David Cook, on Thursday morning. Though sources told the Texan the timing was merely coincidental and Phelan's decision to

drop out had already been made by Wednesday evening. But two sources with direct knowledge told the Texan he had informed them of his withdrawal from the race, bringing an end to the long, arduous arc that started even before the contentious 2024 primary. Phelan confirmed his exit on Friday morning, saying in a statement, quote, Out of deep respect for this institution and its members, and after careful consideration and private consultation with colleagues, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the race for Speaker of the Texas House.

While he's dropping out of the race for Speaker, Phelan said he will continue to serve out his term per House District 21, which he secured following a razor-thin 366-vote margin in the May Republican primary runoff. In other news, earlier this week, the Tarrant County Commissioner's Court unanimously passed a resolution asking the state of Texas to fund a mental health facility in the county. Tarrant County, the third most populous county in Texas, is home to over 2.1 million people. It is the largest county in the state without a state mental facility within its borders. The resolution notes that at any given time, there are 331 inmates in the Tarrant County Jail awaiting competency restoration. According to the

Texas Department of Health and Human Services, when a defendant has been found incompetent to stand trial, he or she must participate in a competency restoration program at state hospitals. However, the nearest state hospital to Tarrant County is about 120 miles from Fort Worth in Wichita Falls. The resolution reads, quote, The Tarrant County Commissioner's Court respectfully requests for the state of Texas to provide funding to fill a critical gap

in the county's mental health continuum of care, providing essential services to residents and alleviating pressure on the county jail and local mental health providers. Last but not least, the City of White settlement has started attaching a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement to the beginning of its City Council

meeting agendas. White Settlement changed the format of its Council meeting agendas after its October 8th meeting, where several citizens expressed frustration with the City government, Council, and Police Department. The original public participation statement from the council outlines the format of public comment and discusses the expectation of behavior set for the general public. Specifically, the original statement requests that the public refrain from quote, disparaging or inflammatory remarks, end quote, directed towards board members, city council, or city staff. The original statement also limits council members' responses to comments on matters not on the agenda to specific factual information, recitation of existing policy,

and direction to place the subject on a future agenda. Thanks for listening. To support The Texan, please be sure to visit thetexan.news and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters and podcasts.