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| | [[University of Texas at Austin]]}} | | [[University of Texas at Austin]]}} |
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| − | '''Matthew McDade Phelan''' (born September 18, 1975) is a [[real estate]] developer from [[Beaumont]], who is the [[Speaker]] of the [[Texas]] House of Representatives, and a former [[Democrat]] who switched to the [[Republican Party]] and became a legislator for District 21 (located in the southeastern corner of the state, an area commonly known as the '''Golden Triangle''') Phelan is the first Speaker to come from that portion of Texas. Unlike the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], where the party in the majority elects the [[Speaker of the House]] without cross-over voting allowed, the Speaker of the Texas House is typically elected mostly by [[Democrat]]s and [[liberal]] [[Republicans]], even though the Republican Party holds the majority. The same scenario exists as well in neighboring [[Louisiana]]. | + | '''Matthew McDade Phelan''' (born September 18, 1975) is a [[real estate]] developer from [[Beaumont]], who is the [[Speaker]] of the [[Texas]] House of Representatives while representing District 21 (located in the southeastern corner of the state, an area commonly known as the '''Golden Triangle''') Phelan is the first Speaker to come from that portion of Texas. Unlike the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], where the party in the majority elects the [[Speaker of the House]] without cross-over voting allowed, the Speaker of the Texas House is typically elected mostly by [[Democrat]]s and [[liberal]] [[Republicans]], even though the Republican Party holds the majority. The same scenario exists as well in neighboring [[Louisiana]]. |
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| | In late May 2023, Phelan was slurring his speech while presiding over a session on the House floor, apparently because he was intoxicated. Independent news services reported that "Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan slurred speech on House floor," replete with video.<ref name="Intoxicated">https://www.kwtx.com/video/2023/05/23/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan-slurred-speech-house-floor/</ref> | | In late May 2023, Phelan was slurring his speech while presiding over a session on the House floor, apparently because he was intoxicated. Independent news services reported that "Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan slurred speech on House floor," replete with video.<ref name="Intoxicated">https://www.kwtx.com/video/2023/05/23/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan-slurred-speech-house-floor/</ref> |
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| | In 1994, Phelan graduated from the [[Roman Catholic]] Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School in Beaumont. In 1998, he received a degree in business from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. He is affiliated with his family-owned Phelan Investments, a fourth-generation real estate company.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=21|title=Texas House of Representatives: Representative Phelan, Dade|publisher=Texas House of Representatives|accessdate=February 12, 2021}}</ref> | | In 1994, Phelan graduated from the [[Roman Catholic]] Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School in Beaumont. In 1998, he received a degree in business from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. He is affiliated with his family-owned Phelan Investments, a fourth-generation real estate company.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=21|title=Texas House of Representatives: Representative Phelan, Dade|publisher=Texas House of Representatives|accessdate=February 12, 2021}}</ref> |
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| − | He was a staff member for former state Senator Tommy Williams, former [[U.S. Representative]] [[Dick Armey]], and former District 21 State Representative Mark Stiles. Then [[Governor]] [[Rick Perry]] twice named Phelan to the Lower Neches Valley Authority; he was the board president in 2013.<ref name=bio/> | + | He was a staff member for former state Senator Tommy Williams, former [[U.S. Representative]] [[Dick Armey]], and former District 21 State Representative Democrat Mark Stiles. Then [[Governor]] [[Rick Perry]] twice named Phelan to the Lower Neches Valley Authority; he was the board president in 2013.<ref name=bio/> |
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| | Phelan and his wife, Kim, an [[attorney]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizapedia.com/people/texas/beaumont/kim-phelan.html|title=Kim Phelan in Beaumont, TX|publisher=Bizapedia.com|accessdate=February 12, 2021}}</ref> | | Phelan and his wife, Kim, an [[attorney]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizapedia.com/people/texas/beaumont/kim-phelan.html|title=Kim Phelan in Beaumont, TX|publisher=Bizapedia.com|accessdate=February 12, 2021}}</ref> |