Texas Republican Has A Plan For Abbott's Final Ten Weeks

Texas Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) posted on X that Republicans still hold power in Texas for the next ten weeks and urged defeated three-term Governor Greg Abbott to convene an immediate special legislative session to curb executive emergency powers before Democrat Gina Hinojosa and her pals take power.

Harrison wrote on X, "Republicans lost last night, but Democrats were not sworn in."

He continued, "We still have total power in Texas, and we must act like it by using the remaining ten weeks to restore separation of powers and limit the emergency powers that Governor-Elect Hinojosa is set to inherit, which would allow her to destroy liberty in Texas by executive fiat."

Harrison said legislation like HB 911, which he filed in 2022, would:

Prohibit the governor from suspending or modifying statutes.

Sunset emergency orders after 30 days if the Legislature does not ratify them.

Prohibit the governor from reissuing emergency orders that have expired or that the Legislature has rejected.

Require emergency orders to be narrowly tailored.

Subject emergency orders to expedited judicial review.

Harrison framed the bill as a separation-of-powers issue, saying he has opposed unchecked emergency authority under governors of either party. He said that Hinojosa's election made action more urgent and called on fellow lawmakers to support his call for a special session.

He said his bill "would protect liberty from executive fiat," adding, "The future of liberty in America is literally on the line in Texas, and Texans deserve leadership that acts accordingly."

Journalist Lara Logan called Harrison's bill a "Hail Mary for Texas - perhaps the Governor could show some courage."