AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Two of the lawmakers running to unseat Dade Phelan as Speaker of the Texas House presented a united front on Friday, telling a crowd at the Texas Tribune Festival they will both work to enact sweeping procedural changes and prioritize more conservative legislation in an already deeply-conservative chamber.
“It’s time for change in the Texas House, and not little change. It’s time for big change,” said Dr. Tom Oliverson, a Cypress Republican and candidate for speaker.
Oliverson and Stephenville Republican Shelby Slawson were the first two challengers to announce their bid for the speakership. Both have criticized Speaker Dade Phelan, their former ally, of inadequately championing conservative priorities in the chamber.
Oliverson, an anesthesiologist, carried the bill to ban gender transition surgery for minors, a conservative priority that ostracized him among House Democrats.
Shelby Slawson earned conservative credentials for carrying the state’s major abortion ban as a first-term member.