#TXLEGE: White Light Phelan

"Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged."
Proverbs 28:2

So it's Phelan:

The race for the next Texas House Speaker is all but over after Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) withdrew on Thursday afternoon.

In a statement to the Texas Tribune, Morrison said, “My team and I are uniting the Republican Caucus with our support of Dade Phelan.”

Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced on Wednesday that he had the votes secured to become the next speaker. Morrison, however, had a last-minute push after Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) announced his withdrawal from the race to endorse her.

But after a meeting between Republican members, Morrison decided to drop out and get behind Phelan.

So, that's that. We stand by our sentiment that the process felt weird. File that one away in case it becomes relevant later. But, for now, Phelan can't be stopped.

It's gross, but there was never any reason to expect anything different.

Given that a Phelan speakership is now overwhelmingly likely, it's worth revisiting Bryan Slaton's recent comment:

Here is the truth: If the speaker vote is nothing more than picking which group gets to be in control, while the status quo of the Texas House remains the same, then I’m not interested in joining either team, and abstaining—or voting with a “white light”—would be my only option.

Now we know.

(Not that we didn't suspect it before.)

Bottom Line: A Phelan speakership means the status quo, and there's no reason to participate in that farce.