Alex Pla

From @DallasExpress: "State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-District 10) has rallied more than two dozen organizations behind a demand for Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to call a special legislative session to restrict the governor’s emergency powers before Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa (D) takes office. Harrison announced the coalition Thursday on X. The groups he listed include Grassroots America We the People, True Texas Project, Texas Eagle Forum, Citizens for Renewing America, Texas Gun Rights, Gun Owners of America and American Principles Project, alongside local Republican organizations. “No Governor of either party should ever wield unchecked, total power to both write and enforce laws by edict!” Harrison wrote. Harrison described the alliance as the largest coalition of its kind seeking limits on emergency powers. His office also reported that he delivered 15,000 petitions to Abbott’s office supporting a special session. The coalition expands Harrison’s push after Hinojosa defeated Abbott in the November 3 election, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. In an interview with The Dallas Express, Harrison argued that emergency powers threaten the Legislature’s authority. “This is tyrannical. It’s unconstitutional. It renders the people powerless because their elected representatives in the legislative branch are irrelevant,” Harrison said. “Greg Abbott’s still the governor for nine more weeks, and he needs to start acting like it. He needs to call us back.” What the law allows Texas Government Code Chapter 418 gives the governor’s disaster orders the force of law. Section 418.016 allows the governor to suspend regulatory statutes governing procedures for state business, along with state agency orders or rules, when strict compliance would hinder necessary disaster response. A disaster declaration lasts no more than 30 days unless the governor renews it. The Legislature can end a declaration by law. Harrison said the scope of that authority shocked him and warned that governors could use it to sideline lawmakers. “The legislative branch becomes irrelevant. All of our laws can be just thrown right out the window,” he said. The statute limits suspension authority to specified laws and rules tied to disaster response; it does not expressly authorize a governor to discard every state law. Harrison sought restrictions while Abbott held office, including through House Bill 911 for the 2023 session. That proposal would have removed certain statute-suspension powers, required legislative approval to renew disaster declarations beyond 30 days and imposed time limits and other safeguards on orders affecting constitutional rights. The bill also called for expedited court challenges. It stalled in the House State Affairs Committee. Harrison also filed House Bill 708 on November 9 for the 2027 regular session. The bill would require legislative approval to extend disaster declarations beyond 30 days, remove the governor’s authority under Chapter 418 to suspend statutes and limit certain orders affecting constitutional rights to 30 days unless lawmakers extend them. Harrison rejects calls to wait Harrison criticized Republicans who argue that Democratic lawmakers could deny a special session the quorum needed to conduct business. “Voters in Texas are sick and tired of Republicans promising to fight for their freedom, but at every single opportunity, they will make any excuse for inaction, any excuse for surrender,” Harrison said. He questioned whether critics had evidence that Democrats would refuse to participate. “Have the Democrats made those statements on the record? Do the Democrats disagree with what I’m saying?” Harrison said Republicans should use every available tool to limit the damage he believes Democrats could cause during their four years in power. “Anything short of that is a dereliction of duty,” he said. He acknowledged that a special session might not produce the restrictions he wants, but argued that inaction would eliminate any chance of passage. “These people who call themselves Republicans, they should be forced to defend why surrender is preferable to fighting.” Harrison pointed to past Democratic interest in curbing executive authority as a reason to test whether lawmakers could reach an agreement. He also contrasted the coalition’s support with resistance from Republican colleagues. “I am uniting with the people. I am uniting with the conservative patriots across the state of Texas,” Harrison told The Dallas Express. “Colleagues are continuing to marginalize themselves from the conservative grassroots that they promised they would fight for.” He said he intends to remain outspoken about Republican leadership after the election. “Look, Texas needs Republican leadership now more than ever.” “I will continue to be that voice because we’re going to need somebody to stand up and show Texas what it means to be a real Republican in the Texas government.”