11th-hour power play targets incoming Dem governor after historic GOP defeat
A GOP lawmaker in Texas is seeking to limit some of the incoming governor's powers after Democrats flipped the state blue in Tuesday's election.Republican Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison on...
By Fox News · Fox News
A GOP lawmaker in Texas is seeking to limit some of the incoming governor's powers after Democrats flipped the state blue in Tuesday's election. Republican Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison on Wednesday publicly urged outgoing Gov. Greg Abbott to convene a special session to "rein in" the governor's executive emergency powers before Democratic Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa takes office. " Republicans lost last night, but Democrats were not sworn in," Harrison wrote in a lengthy statement posted on X. "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, that would allow her to destroy liberty in Texas by executive fiat." Harrison also emphasized in the post that he believes Texas governors should not have "unchecked" emergency powers, regardless of their party affiliation. TED CRUZ SAYS 'BLUE TSUNAMI' TOOK OVER TEXAS AFTER DEMOCRATS SWEPT STATEWIDE RACES "Texas should have reined in executive emergency powers when I first demanded it in 2022," Harrison told Fox News Digital on Thursday. "If these are not revoked, Gina Hinojosa will assume not just the powers our state constitution bestows upon a Governor, but will, in effect, inherit nearly all the powers of a dictator. Most people are shocked to learn Texas governors can write, edit, or change any statute on a whim if they just declare an ‘emergency,’ and this is unconstitutional." Under Section 433.002 of the Texas Government Code, the governor may issue emergency directives and "amend, modify, or rescind" those directives during a declared state of emergency, subject to the requirements outlined in the law. "These powers have been abused in the past, and Governor-Elect Hinojosa has pledged to use them on day one," the Texas Republican added. "Republicans are still in control for ten week…