Like a bad Hollywood movie, newly elected Chairman of the Texas House Republican Caucus Dustin Burrows has resigned after a June 12th meeting with a conservative activist, Michael Sullivan of Texas Scorecard, turned into a disaster for his tenure. Burrows had replaced Cindy Burkett, who was only in the position less than a year herself as it has now become something of a revolving door.
From DallasNews.com:
House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, one of the most powerful politicians in Texas, and one of his top lieutenants, Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock, are embroiled in a political scandal involving a meeting the two had with conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan in early June. In that meeting, Sullivan alleges, Bonnen offered writers for his website, Texas Scorecard, media credentials in exchange for refraining from criticizing the legislative session and targeting a group of 10 Republican incumbents. That allegation, which Bonnen denies, has led to political turmoil, a Texas Ranger investigation and a lawsuit.
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According to a July 25th editorial by Sullivan, Burrows and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen extended an offer during the meeting. He would ensure Texas Scorecard reporters received House floor access in 2021 if we would lay off our criticism of the legislative session, not spend money from our affiliated PACs against certain Republicans, and—most shockingly—go after a list of other Republicans in the 2020 primary elections.
This is problematic and unethical for many reasons. We cannot have politicians trying to broker deals for better coverage. If Bonnen, who was also just elected as Speaker this year, were to step aside, Democrat Joe Moody would be next in line. Fellow Republican representatives have already called for his resignation.
The whole thing is ironic because Burrows had called for party unity from the next House Speaker. “The goal is for it to be a unifying thing for Republicans so that when we come out of this, we agree that this is the person who is best able, and should, lead our House,” Burrows said.
Former Florida House Rep Allen West announced yesterday he will challenge current Chairman James Dickey for Texas GOP chair. This scandal is sure to play a major factor in that race as West has already weighed in saying, “When I think about Bonnen and Burrows, you need to step aside, to let us do what’s right.”