House Speaker shakes up committee assignments with new leaders, extends olive branch to Democrats

AUSTIN -- House Speaker Dennis Bonnen on Wednesday announced his committee assignments for this year's legislative session, retaining several high-ranking Republicans to lead important committees while also trying to strike a bipartisan tone with Democrats.

"I want every member to know, every member was considered thoughtfully in these assignments," Bonnen told his fellow lawmakers. "I don't want a single member to not feel a part of this house."

In an olive branch to colleagues across the aisle, Bonnen named El Paso Democrat Joe Moody speaker pro tem and appointed several Democrats to committee chairmanships. House Democratic Caucus leader Chris Turner of Grand Prairie was named chairman of the higher education committee.

In all, Bonnen appointed 12 Democrats and 22 Republicans to lead committees. He decreased the number of committees from 38 to 34 to try to increase efficiency.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/01/23/bonnen-announces-house-committee-assignments