This week, Inside Texas Politics presents its annual Turkey Awards. We do this every year on the program where we celebrate the great work - and not so great work - our legislators and leaders have done through the year.
Here's how it works: for those officials who have had a successful year politically, they get a turkey leg. Those who have not - they get the gizzard.
Members of the Inside Texas Politics Reporters Roundtable present the awards. Ross Ramsey is the co-founder and executive editor of the Texas Tribune. Bud Kennedy is a columnist at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Berna Dean Steptoe is the political producer at WFAA in Dallas.
Without further ado:
Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan - Turkey Leg
Awarded by Jason Whitely
- First-time speaker
- Navigated three special sessions
- Dealt with Democrats breaking quorum
Power grid and actors - Gizzard
Awarded by Ross Ramsey
The actors: electric utilities, natural gas companies, regulars (ERCOT, PUC, RRC) and lawmakers.
- Affected everybody
- Texas was out of power for 4 days
Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado - Turkey leg
Awarded by Berna Dean Steptoe
- 15-hour filibuster
- Did not allow Republicans to "just walk" on elections bill
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz - Gizzard
Awarded by Bud Kennedy
- Traveled to Cancun during the February winter storm
- Picked a fight with Big Bird over COVID vaccine
Rep. Ryan Guillen - Gizzard
Awarded by Jason Whitely
- Switched parties - from Democrat to Republican - after redistricting turned his district from Democrat to Republican
- Timing of the switch "suspect"
Tethered dogs - Turkey leg
Awarded by Ross Ramsey
- Bill passed in regular session, but governor vetoed
- Bill later passed in a special session
- Advocates pushed hard for protections
Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton - Gizzard
Awarded by Berna Dean Steptoe
- Appeared during Jan. 6 rally that preceded Capitol Riots
Voters who helped elect San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker - Turkey Leg
Awarded by Bud Kennedy
- Voters came "thundering" back to the polls
- Strong turnout for the elections in May
- Voters are "tuned in"
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott - Gizzard
Awarded by Jason Whitely
- Tethered dogs bill controversy
- Vetoed bill to fund legislature to hit Democrats, but legislature employees in both parties suffered
Texas Republican legislators - Both a turkey leg and a gizzard
Awarded by Ross Ramsey, Berna Dean Steptoe
- Passed a lot of issues-based bills on abortion, guns, etc.
- Funding for border wall
- Passed a major elections bill
El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser - Tukey Leg
Awarded by Bud Kennedy
- Helped lead the border region from being hardest hit by COVID in Texas, to one of the most vaccinated regions
President Joe Biden - Turkey leg
Awarded by Jason Whitely
- His signature campaign promise, a bipartisan infrastructure bill, passed and was signed into law
Texas Democrats - Gizzard
Awarded by Ross Ramsey
- Left for Washington, D.C. during a special session
- Came back fragmented
- Didn't accomplish what they set out to do - to get Congress to pass voter protection legislation
- Managed to unite Republicans
State Sen. Jane Nelson - Turkey Leg
Awarded by Berna Dean Steptoe
- Chaired financed committee
- Played a major role in last session
Alex Jones - Gizzard
Awarded by Bud Kennedy
- Major presence at Jan. 6 rally
- Sued by Sandy Hook parents
- Being subpoenaed to testify in his alleged role in Capital riots
Watch the full episode of Inside Texas Politics below:
