Rep. Brent Money Moves to Repeal Bad Amendment From Critical Housing Bill

The majority of Republicans backed repealing the bad amendment.

Correction: We originally stated that Rep. Shaheen tried to change his vote on his SB 17 amendment. However, we’ve been informed the Journal Clerk entered data incorrectly and meant to put Rep. Hickland’s vote change instead, and that his amendment affected just page 4, line 24 of the bill.

Switching stances is common in Texas politics. Whether it’s Rep. David Cook switching to Team Reform during the Speakership circus, or Rep. Brian Harrison ditching conservatism to legalize gay sex, many notables “change colors” so fast they’re mistaken for “rainbows.” One occurrence stood out this week.

For our recent followers, Rep. Matt Shaheen authored an amendment semi-neutering SB 17, which will ban Chinese and others from hostile nations from buying Texas land. If left uncontested, it would’ve meant Chinese, Iranian, and Russian illegal aliens were the only people on the entire planet that couldn’t acquire Texas land and congest our already strained housing market.

Republicans Making It Easier for Texans to Become Homeowners

However, a report states Shaheen supposedly had second thoughts about his own amendment.

Via Texas Scorecard:

The debate over Texas’ foreign land ownership ban has taken an unusual turn, with State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R–Plano) claiming in a journal statement that he meant to vote against his own amendment that critics say significantly weakened the legislation.

Shaheen’s amendment, adopted during the second reading of Senate Bill 17, narrowed the scope of who would be barred from purchasing land in Texas.

Instead of a blanket ban on individuals from designated foreign adversaries, the amendment added an exception: the prohibition would only apply to those who are not lawfully present and residing in the United States.

That change, some members warned, would allow foreign nationals from countries like China, Iran, and Russia to buy land in Texas as long as they are here on a valid visa.

Only 19 members originally voted against the amendment.

Sometime after the vote, Shaheen submitted a journal statement claiming he accidentally voted yes on his own amendment.

Shaheen when asked about his amendment

Why would anyone vote against their own amendment?

The mixed signals from Shaheen, however, don’t end there.

When an amendment was later offered on third reading the next day to repeal the Shaheen language, he doubled down—voting against repealing it. He was joined by State Rep. Angie Chen Button (R–Richardson), as the only two Republicans to oppose the repeal.

While a majority of members supported undoing the Shaheen language, it did not reach the two-thirds threshold necessary for third reading amendments.

It’s all so tiresome.

Thankfully, damage was mitigated thanks to Rep. Brent “Cash” Money, who took to the Texas House floor the day after Shaheen’s amendment passed, attempting to fully obliterate it.

This was posted on May 9th.

In the above clip, Money exposes Shaheen’s amendment with ease. Pondering who’ll continue to protect our housing market, it’s safe to say my money’s on Money.

Here’s hoping.