Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Following a disappointing 2023 legislative session for Texas Democrats, state Rep. John Bryant, D-Dallas, said it’s time to take an active stand against Republicans after the party seemed “unwilling to work together” during the session.
Bryant, Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, and Victoria Neave Criado, D-Dallas, discussed weak consensus within their own party during a panel Saturday at The Texas Tribune Festival moderated by Matthew Watkins, managing editor of news and politics.
During the session, the party’s attempts to wield its influence on significant matters in the House proved unsuccessful, which Bryant attributed to the “go-along-get-along” Democrats.
Bryant highlighted the property tax cut legislation as a significant missed chance for Democrats, as they did not utilize their influence to modify the bill in favor of renters.
Bryant pointed out that a contributing factor lies in the fact that we have 25 members who either hold the position of chairman or vice chair, or have been granted other perks by the Speaker of the House. These individuals consistently oppose any course of action that may displease the Republican majority during our caucus discussions.
Martinez Fischer is currently the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, while Neave Criado holds the position of chair for both the County Affairs Committee and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
Criado expressed that although there may be differing opinions, she believes that having diverse leadership styles within the caucus can be advantageous. According to her, the main focus should always be on serving the people we represent and making decisions that align with their best interests.
During the upcoming special legislative session next month, all three panel participants expressed their opposition to the school voucher bill. If passed, this proposal would enable parents to utilize taxpayers’ money to transfer their children from public schools to private institutions. Bryant emphasized that Democrats must stand together without any room for wavering or compromise.
He expressed his belief that our case is immensely compelling, and the real challenge lies in whether we can conquer the influential group of billionaires. Our main focus should be exerting pressure on Republicans and ensuring that our fellow Democrats remain united. It should be noted that not all Democrats share the same perspective as the three of us.
According to Neave Criado, the party should prioritize its common goals of increasing teacher salaries and improving public schools.
“I long for unity amongst us. … I recognize that a significant number of us are already united, and ultimately, it is crucial to stand together in our efforts to support the people we care for and represent in our home constituencies,” expressed Neave Criado.
Bryant stated that in order to accomplish tasks, it is crucial for the public to take responsibility and ensure their representatives are held accountable.
He expressed a complete lack of faith in relying solely on the caucus to achieve this. “The public needs to actively engage with their individual representatives through phone calls, letters, and personal interactions to ensure we don’t lose enough Democrats to lose hope.”
As The Texas Tribune’s signature event of the year, The Texas Tribune Festival brings Texans closer to politics, policy and the day’s news from Texas and beyond. Browse on-demand recordings and catch up on the biggest headlines from Festival events at the Tribune’s Festival news page.
