The recording revealed that top Republican lawmakers wanted the 2019 session to be painful for cities and counties — and 2021 to be even worse.
Dustin Burrows
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Politics
“This is all confidential”: Key excerpts from secret recording of House Speaker Dennis Bonnen
In the hourlong conversation with Michael Quinn Sullivan, the leader of the Texas House is heard offering press credentials and asking for political support for challengers in the 2020 primaries.
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Politics
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen offered media access to Empower Texans, suggested it target certain Republicans, recording shows
Bonnen also spoke disparagingly about multiple Democrats, calling one House member “vile” and suggesting that another’s “wife’s gonna be really pissed when she learns he’s gay.”
Posted inState Government
Dennis Bonnen, Michael Quinn Sullivan and who? We break down who was in the room and who’s mentioned on the tape.
Here’s who was mentioned in the recording where Republican Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen urged a hardline conservative activist to politically target members of their own party — and suggested he could get the activist’s group media access to lawmakers next legislative session.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Give Michael Quinn Sullivan his due — he was telling the truth about Speaker Dennis Bonnen
The long-awaited recording of the meeting between the House speaker and a political operative is now out — and as turns out, Michael Quinn Sullivan’s account was mostly on the nose.
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Politics
Analysis: Michael Quinn Sullivan’s torment of Dennis Bonnen could end next week
Next week could see the public airing of a secret recording that has had the Texas Capitol twisted in drama for most of the summer. With that, members of the Texas House can decide whether their speaker, Dennis Bonnen, made a big mistake or a little one.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Texas redistricting is hard enough when politicians trust the mapmakers
Lawmakers get jittery when it’s time to redraw their political maps, and the exercise is based on a mix of power, party, clout, tenure — and trust. That last one is a fleeting quality in the Texas House right now.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Release the recording already, and show everybody who’s lying
After a month of allegations and denials about a political meeting between a conservative activist, the speaker of the Texas House and a committee chairman, there’s still a missing link: proof. There’s a recording of the meeting, but the activist who taped it won’t share it with the public.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: After botching one shot at peace, the Texas GOP establishment tries again
After a month of silence, a state representative tangled in a political misadventure in the Texas Capitol emerged to say he’ll seek reelection with the endorsement of the governor. But the harmony is tentative, and the scandal is still under investigation by the Texas Rangers.
Posted inState Government
State Rep. Dustin Burrows calls for release of secret recording of meeting with Michael Quinn Sullivan
Burrows said he hasn’t been contacted by the Texas Rangers about his meeting with Sullivan and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, but said “there was nothing illegal done.”