Difference between revisions of "Dade Phelan"
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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. | + | '''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. |
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," providing a video showing it.<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," providing a video showing it.<ref name="Intoxicated">https://www.kwtx.com/video/2023/05/23/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan-slurred-speech-house-floor/</ref> | ||
Revision as of 06:21, May 27, 2023
| Matthew McDade "Dade" Phelan | |
 | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 12, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Dennis Bonnen |
|---|---|
Texas State Representative
for District 21 (Jasper, Jefferson, and Orange counties) | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Allan Ritter |
| Born | September 18, 1975 Beaumont, Texas, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Kim W. Phelan |
| Children | Ford, Mack, Hank and Luke Phelan |
| Residence | Beaumont, Texas |
| Alma mater | Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School |
| Occupation | Real estate developer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
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 Democrats and liberal Republicans, even though the Republican Party holds the majority.
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," providing a video showing it.[1]
Illustrating how he is a Judas politician, Phelan led an ambush impeachment of the popular and recently elected conservative Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.
Background
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.[2]
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.[2]
Phelan and his wife, Kim, an attorney,[3] reside in Jefferson County with their four boys.[2]
Career
Phelan succeeded former Democrat Representative Allan Ritter, first elected in 1998 but changed parties in 2010. Ritter did not seek reelection in 2014.
Prior to his election as Speaker by his colleagues, Phelan served previously as the chairman of the House Committee on State Affairs, vice chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, and the Calendars, Appropriations, and Election committees. He also sat on the Select Committee on Ports, Innovation and Infrastructure.[4]
The liberal Texas Monthly magazine named him one of the best legislators of 2019.[5]
In May 2023, state Attorney General Ken Paxton called for Phelan's resignation after the Speaker appeared inebriated while presiding over the House.[1] Paxton also said that Phelan has repeatedly blocked many conservative measures in the House which were already approved in the state Senate under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.kwtx.com/video/2023/05/23/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan-slurred-speech-house-floor/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Texas House of Representatives: Representative Phelan, Dade. Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved on February 12, 2021.
- ↑ Kim Phelan in Beaumont, TX. Bizapedia.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2021.
- ↑ Jolie McCullough (July 18, 2019). After defeats in 2019, a group of Texas lawmakers is teaming up to push criminal justice reform. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved on December 4, 2020.
- ↑ Carlos Sanchez, R. G. Ratcliffe, and Christopher Hooks (June 18, 2019). 2019: The Best and Worst Legislators. Texas Monthly.
- ↑ J. D. Rucker (May 23, 2023). Ken Paxton Calls on Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan to Resign After “Debilitating Intoxication”. Retrieved on May 24, 2023.