Bonnen takes bipartisan approach to leadership assignments

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced committee assignments Wednesday, handing leadership posts to lawmakers from all major political factions in the chamber.

Bonnen named 22 Republicans and 12 Democrats chairs of standing committees, and a Democrat, state Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso, speaker pro tempore, the officer who presides over the chamber when the speaker is absent. Bonnen held that position for three legislative sessions before assuming the chamber's top job this month.

Nineteen chairs and 22 vice chairs are women and/or minorities and fifteen chairs come from rural parts of the state.

Three Austin-area lawmakers also were appointed to leadership posts: Rep. John Cyrier, R-Lockhart, chairman of the Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee; Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, vice chairwoman of the Human Services Committee; and Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, vice chairwoman of the House Administration Committee.

Bonnen told members they all have a place in the Texas House.

"No member is not on the team," he said before committee appointments were announced. "We are the Texas House. We will all work together. And I considered your concerns for your district in your request in every assignment. And I don't want a single member to not feel a part of this House."

The new and returning committee leaders are a combination of moderate Republicans who supported former Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, members of the conservative Freedom Caucus, and moderate and liberal House Democrats.

"What we saw is that Bonnen did a pretty equal distribution across the entire House, where no group or region, no ideological group ... partisan group or ethnic, racial group can say that they were somehow shut out," said Rice University political science professor Mark Jones.

Nine lawmakers named chairs Wednesday are members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.

“We thank Speaker Bonnen for entrusting our members with continued leadership roles," Rep. Rafael Anchía, chairman of the caucus, said in a statement. "The scope and reach of the newly-appointed committee assignments allow MALC members to lead on issues important to every Texas family — funding our schools, good paying jobs, and fostering healthy communities."

Moderate Democrats fared especially well, which could mean "Bonnen's very strategically nurturing a strong group of support within the more centrist wing of the Democratic Party, such that if he faces rebellion from the Freedom Caucus or some other Republican faction, he may be able to turn to them for either indirect or direct support," Jones said.

The approach of Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, has been markedly different. He appointed Democrats chairmen of just two of the chamber's 16 standing committees and this week removed the only moderate Republican in the chamber from his committee chairmanship.