HK: Kremlin watching or Deciphering Senate Appointments
For Kremlin watchers in the lobby, the announcement of committee assignments is usually seen as an inflection point marking the real beginning of the process and the character of the session to come. Typically, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s assignments are announced before the year begins so there was some additional interest since this year they did not happen before the Inauguration. Of particular interest was Business and Commerce that saw the unprecedented firing of a Chairman, Kelly Hancock in the middle of the last session and the hiring of Charles Schwertner to replace him. Hancock’s sin was to publicly disagree with Patrick over clawing back arguably windfall profits to electricity producers during Winter Storm Uri . Hancock argued that a retrospective claw-back would destabilize markets. The silence of Hancock’s colleagues after his firing cemented Patrick’s chokehold over the Senate and diminished the body so that the all but universally accepted lobby attitude is that “…there is only one vote that matters in the Senate.” As a result, while there was interest over the assignments, it was not met with the usual hyper-concern normally demonstrated in most sessions. And frankly, there were only a few surprises.
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For Kremlin watchers in the lobby, the announcement of committee assignments is usually seen as an inflection point marking the real beginning of the process and the character of the session to come. Typically, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s assignments are announced before the year begins so there was some additional interest since this year they did not happen before the Inauguration.
Of particular interest was
Business and Commerce that saw the unprecedented firing of a Chairman, Kelly Hancock in the middle of the last session and the hiring of Charles Schwertner to replace him. Hancock’s sin was to publicly disagree with Patrick over clawing back arguably windfall profits to electricity producers during Winter Storm Uri . Hancock argued that a retrospective claw-back would destabilize markets.
The silence of Hancock’s colleagues after his firing cemented Patrick’s chokehold over the Senate and diminished the body so that the all but universally accepted lobby attitude is that “…there is only one vote that matters in the Senate.”
As a result, while there was interest over the assignments, it was not met with the usual hyper-concern normally demonstrated in most sessions.
And frankly, there were only a few surprises.
But there were some items worth noting as the session begins. Interestingly, Hancock was named Chair of Veterans Affairs where his business background could be useful in thinking about veterans transitioning to the private sector. Freshman Phil King was appointed Vice-Chair of B&C which is notable because he brings experience in some of the key issues facing the Committee. King once served as Chair of Regulated Industries in the House and the single biggest unresolved issue facing the session is seriously stabilizing the grid. Were something to happen to Schwertner’s chairmanship, King brings a serious background to the table (although King’s lack of seniority would be problematic). It is also likely that the insurance issues normally domiciled at Business and Commerce would be relocated to another committee because, as a physician, Dr. Schwertner is not seen by that industry as a fair arbiter much as Dr. Oliverson was perceived when he chaired House Insurance last session. After eight years , Bob Hall finally gets a serious chairmanship.
He will preside over Senate Administration which runs Senate business from allocating parking spaces to the al- important Local and Consent Calendar . When the Lt. Governor is off the floor, the default senator in the chair is frequently Senate Administration although this session it has been President Pro Tempore Hancock or in the past, Senator Brian Birdwell .
But the real reward for Hall is that Local and Consent gives him substantial leverage in getting his bills out of the House. In previous years, Senate Administration was a coveted position for senior members but this time it includes two freshmen and two sophomore members. It is somewhat puzzling that the Lt. Governor added two seats to the Senate Finance Committee .
The budget will ultimately require the Lt. Governor’s approval so it is somewhat of a mystery as to why he made the additions other than perhaps allowing more folks to nibble at the edges of earmarks. In addition, the ultimate Budget will come from a conference committee with the House. Of course, Bryan Hughes retains his chairmanship of State Affairs after his sterling performance with SB8 (banning abortions) and the so-called “Election Integrity Bill” – but it is unclear why he is also chairing a separate committee on Jurisprudence . One long-time observer speculates that insurance industry issues will be referred to Jurisprudence but the insurance industry would then be caught between a physician Chair at Business & Commerce or a plaintiff attorney Chair at Jurisprudence which also includes Vice Chair Nathan Johnson who does plaintiff work. The insurance industry’s fate will likely become more clear when bill referrals begin.
Similarly, Sen. Birdwell now chairs two committees adding Border Security to his portfolio. The Committee appropriately includes three South Texas Senators including the returning Republican Pete Flores . Many have wondered why the Redistricting Committee is being revived and, of course, chaired once again by Joan Huffman . Reliable sources tell QR that a number of Patrick allies who want to run statewide in 2026 drew two-year terms which means they would have to give up their seat to run for another office. The Redistricting Committee will possibly make a few cosmetic changes to the map and then vote it out again. Doing so in the regular session should require Senators to once again draw lots to determine who gets two or four year terms. And of course, Dean of the Senate John Whitmire presides over Criminal Justice , his long-held specialty. He will be the last Democratic Chair under Dan Patrick. Whitmire drew a two year term (although that may change in the subsequent drawing) but more importantly, he will be running for Houston Mayor in November and may leave a vacant seat if he is successful.