Texas First. Texas Forever.

State Rep Brian Harrison Launches Petition to Oust Texas Speaker

The winds of change are blowing through the halls of the Texas Capitol. Following his unprecedented motion to vacate Speaker Dustin Burrows on April 1, State Representative Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) has launched a petition to rally Texans behind his effort to hold House leadership accountable for what he describes as “unconstitutionally corrupt lawlessness.”

The conflict reached a boiling point after Harrison exposed what many are calling a constitutional crisis on the House floor. On March 28, an electronic roll call showed 118 members present, easily surpassing the two-thirds quorum threshold required by the Texas Constitution. However, when Harrison demanded a verification vote, only 65 members were actually physically present – well short of the 100 needed to legally conduct business.

“Proud to have forced a verification vote to expose the corrupt and lawless leadership in the Texas House that tried to violate the Constitution by convening without a quorum,” Harrison stated to Texas Scorecard after forcing the chamber to adjourn. This verification exposed the stark disconnect between the official record and physical reality on the House floor.

The Texas Constitution explicitly requires a quorum for a reason – to prevent a small minority from wielding power without proper representation. When leadership attempts to circumvent these constitutional guardrails, they undermine the very foundation of our republican form of government.

Harrison’s confrontation with Speaker Burrows escalated further on April 1, when he formally moved to vacate the chair. “Mr. Speaker, I change and I now move to vacate the chair,” Harrison declared, citing House Rule 5, Section 35, which establishes the motion to vacate as a privileged motion.

Speaker Burrows immediately refused to recognize Harrison, dismissing the motion with a flippant remark: “you are not recognized even on April Fool’s Day, Mr. Harrison.” This dismissive response to a serious constitutional challenge speaks volumes about the current leadership’s attitude toward parliamentary integrity.

During this confrontation, Harrison outlined several additional grievances against the Speaker, including:

  1. The quorum violation, where Burrows falsely declared a quorum present with only 63 members in attendance
  2. The scheduling of HB 195 as the first bill on the General State calendar despite being authored by “a member of the minority party”
  3. Allegations that the House Appropriations Committee approved a budget “in clear violation of house rules on at least eight occasions” by not properly broadcasting committee meetings

Harrison isn’t acting alone in this fight. As a staunch conservative with endorsements from Senator Ted Cruz and numerous county-level Republican officials, he’s channeling the frustration of Texans who believe their representatives should follow the rules they’re sworn to uphold.

The new petition gives ordinary Texans a chance to voice their support for constitutional governance and parliamentary integrity. It represents a growing grassroots movement determined to hold leadership accountable regardless of party affiliation.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. When those in power can selectively ignore rules designed to protect minority rights and ensure proper representation, we’ve entered dangerous territory. Harrison’s petition is less about partisan politics and more about preserving the foundations of Texas governance.

This battle reflects a deeper struggle at play in Texas politics. Do we stand for constitutional principles and procedural integrity, or do we accept that rules can be bent or broken when convenient for those in power?

Harrison’s willingness to challenge the Speaker – reminiscent of the courage shown by our Texas forebears at decisive moments in our history – demonstrates the independent spirit that has always defined Texas. Whether you agree with his specific policy positions or not, his fight for constitutional adherence deserves serious consideration.

The petition offers Texans a chance to be heard on this critical issue of governance. Time will tell if enough representatives will join Harrison’s motion to vacate, but one thing is certain – the eyes of Texas are upon the House leadership, and the demand for constitutional integrity grows louder with each passing day.

The Texas Nationalist Movement has long advocated for Texas sovereignty and proper constitutional governance. Harrison’s petition represents another front in the ongoing struggle to ensure Texas is governed according to our values, our principles, and our constitution. The fight continues, and Harrison’s stand reminds us that no one in power is above the rules that bind us together as Texans.

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