Charlie Hodges

🚨 I am demanding Speaker Burrows remove James Talarico from the House leadership positions he (indefensibly) appointed him to. Voters elected Republicans to lead the Texas House... not radical Democrats! Full letter: Speaker Burrows, Shocking statements and videos of Representative James Talarico have made national headlines, including him declaring there are “six genders,” asserting that God is “non-binary,” and using the Biblical narrative of Joseph and Mary to justify elective abortions. While his holding these liberal positions is shocking to Americans newly acclimated with him, you have been well aware for years that he holds these extremist positions and that he has pushed to legislatively enact them, such as his efforts to force public schools to teach DEI and hire DEI officers at taxpayer expense. Many of his radical statements were made prior to the start of the 89th legislative session, when Rep. Talarico helped elect you as Speaker. Indefensibly, you rewarded Rep. Talarico by appointing him to multiple positions in House leadership: making him Vice Chair of the Committee on Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development and Vice Chair of the Public Education Subcommittee on Academic and Career Oriented Education (especially indefensible given his leftist views on education). With these Vice Chairmanships, he has significant power to shape upcoming interim hearings, and he receives additional taxpayer funds to spend at his discretion. By placing Rep. Talarico in House leadership, you gave him a platform that aided his rise to national prominence and helped lead him to the Democrat nomination for the U.S. Senate. While these appointments were inappropriate at the time, they are untenable now. Conservative leaders across America are rightfully rebuking Rep. Talarico’s extremist views, but, as Speaker, you are uniquely able to take action. On behalf of my constituents and the millions of voters who gave Republicans the majority in the Texas House, please consider this to be my formal request that Rep. Talarico be stripped of his Vice Chairmanships and removed from the Education Committee. Immediately. If you believe it’s not within your power under the House Rules to do this, then I ask you stand up select committees with the same jurisdiction and membership (but without Rep. Talarico) where you’ll send all interim charges and official responsibilities for the remainder of the 89th session. We’re in a battle for the future of Texas and America. It’s past time that the Texas House acts like it. For liberty, Brian Harrison