Rick Perry Joins Forces with House Speaker Dade Phelan

Rick Perry, the former Governor of Texas, has recently joined House Speaker Dade Phelan's team as a senior adviser. This move was announced in early September 2024, with Perry taking on this role in a voluntary capacity leading up to the legislative session starting in January. Perry's involvement with Phelan's office comes at a time when Phelan is facing challenges from within his party, with several Republican contenders aiming to replace him as the leader of the Texas House of Representatives.

Perry, known for his long history in Texas politics, including serving as the state's longest-serving governor, brings significant conservative credentials to Phelan's team. This strategic alignment can be seen as an effort by Phelan to reinforce his conservative standing amidst criticisms from more right-wing factions within the Republican Party, particularly after his involvement in the impeachment proceedings against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The relationship between Perry and Phelan isn't new; Perry has publicly supported Phelan in the past, notably during Phelan's primary runoff where Perry's endorsement was seen as a significant boost against a Trump-backed challenger. Perry's decision to advise Phelan might also be interpreted as an attempt to navigate the increasingly polarized political landscape within the Texas GOP, where Perry's more traditional Republican views, which once included criticism of Donald Trump before aligning with him, might help Phelan appeal to a broader spectrum of the party.

Rick Perry's involvement with Ukraine has been a focal point of political scrutiny and discussion, particularly around the time of the Trump administration's first impeachment inquiry.As the U.S. Energy Secretary, Rick Perry was actively involved in promoting U.S. energy interests in Ukraine. His efforts included advocating for reforms in Ukraine's energy sector to attract more Western investment, particularly in oil and gas exploration. This push was part of a broader U.S. policy to reduce Ukraine's dependence on Russian energy.

Below is a photograph of Rick Perry with Ukrainian Billionaire Michael Bleyzer.

Perry has been criticized for potentially using his position to favor allies or donors. Notably, there were allegations that he advocated for specific individuals, like Michael Bleyzer, to be placed in influential positions within Ukraine's energy sector. This included pushing for changes at Naftogaz, Ukraine's state-owned oil and gas company, which led to legal challenges and accusations of favoritism.

Perry's actions in Ukraine became part of the narrative during Trump's first impeachment. His involvement was highlighted in discussions about the pressure on Ukraine to investigate Biden, though Perry's direct role in this aspect was less about the Biden investigation and more about energy sector reforms. However, his activities were often cited in the context of the U.S. foreign policy maneuvers in Ukraine, which were under scrutiny for potential quid pro quo arrangements.

The activities around Naftogaz led to legal actions in Ukraine, with claims that the process was manipulated to favor certain bidders. These events sparked investigations into whether Perry's influence was used improperly, though conclusive evidence of wrongdoing directly linked to Perry has not been established in public records. Perry and his defenders argue that his efforts were aimed at modernizing Ukraine's energy sector, promoting transparency, and fighting corruption, which are in line with U.S. foreign policy goals. They contend that any benefits to U.S. companies or individuals were incidental to these broader objectives.

In 2022, Perry joined the Sports Betting Alliance, a group pushing for the legalization of mobile sports betting in Texas. This move marked a significant shift for Perry, who, during his tenure as governor, was not supportive of gambling expansion. His endorsement of sports betting reflects a recognition of the economic potential and the need to regulate what is already an occurring activity, albeit illegally. Perry's involvement was seen as an attempt to leverage his influence within Texas politics to push for legislative changes. His argument often centered around consumer protection, tax revenue, and keeping money within Texas rather than it flowing to illegal offshore betting sites. This stance has been met with mixed reactions on, where some constituents express opposition, viewing it as a form of gambling expansion which they might oppose on moral or economic grounds. Perry's advocacy for sports betting, alongside his recent role as a senior advisor to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, underscores his continued influence in Texas politics. This move could be interpreted as an attempt to modernize Texas's stance on gambling, aligning with broader national trends towards legalization for tax revenue and regulatory control.

On May 12th, 2023 house rep Jeff Leach (Dade Phelan crony) authored HB 1942 , the bill along with its companion resolution HJR 102, which aimed to amend the Texas Constitution to allow for sports betting, faced a less certain future in the Senate. Senate leadership, notably Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, had expressed opposition to sports betting legislation. This stance suggested that the bill might not advance in the Senate, which indeed turned out to be the case as it did not progress further.

The moves for Phelan are becoming quite clear here: Phelan has drawn a line in the sand and the Texas House of Republicans vs. RINO’s battles for the upcoming session we see shaping.