Bonnen regrets comments about Texas cities and counties — yet also says urban governments have "run amok"

Monday, 21 October 2019CASSANDRA POLLOCK

Local leaders felt targeted by state lawmakers even before the release of a secret recording that has imperiled the Texas House speaker's future. Bonnen says he was trying to convey a larger point about those officials and how they treat taxpayers.

On Monday, Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen publicly defended — and expressed regret for — comments he made about local governments that were captured in a secret recording released last week.

Bonnen took to Twitter to clarify the point he said he was trying to make when he told hardline conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan during a meeting in June that he wanted this year’s legislative session to be difficult for local leaders — and hopes the 2021 session is even harder.

“I have great respect & admiration for our city & county officials,” Bonnen, an Angleton Republican, said in the 12-part thread. “Understand why I said what I did. I am NOT anti local govt, but I AM a pro-taxpayer conservative. It is the large, progressive, urban local govts that have been working against TX taxpayers for years.”

Sullivan, who secretly recorded the June meeting with Bonnen and state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, released the audio last week. That audio largely confirmed allegations Sullivan first made against the speaker and Burrows in late July.

Credit by - The Texas tribune

If you like the story and if you wish more such stories, support our effort Make a donation.