An influential representative, Pete Sessions, is making an appearance at the McLennan County Republican Club monthly meeting at noon today. Sessions is running for House majority whip, the third most powerful position in House leadership.
President of the McLennan County Republican Club, Wesley Lloyd, and Chairman of the McLennan County Republican Party, Ralph Patterson, said they aren’t exactly sure what Sessions’ message will be, but they assure it will be intriguing.
“We do not have the content of his comments at this point, but I would assume he will talk about the Speaker’s election and other things going on in the House,” Patterson said.
San Antonio senior and political science major Matt Chapa is excited about the upcoming event beacuse of all the current commotion going on in Republican politics.
“Politics is widening open right now just because everyone is revolting against the establishment,” Chapa said.
Chapa believes that with so many different people running for so many different positions in politics, it’s important to take advantage of such opportunities of hearing powerful leaders like Sessions.
“Even if you feel disconnected from someone, whether it’s just because they’re a politician, or whether you just don’t agree with them, it’s important to see what kind of direction people in power are looking to go,” Chapa said.
Sessions is a Waco native and the son of William Steele Sessions, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.
Votes on new majority leadership and whip will not take place until after the full House votes to elect a new Speaker. This election is set for Oct. 29, the day before current Speaker of the House John Boehner tenders his resignation.
The club meeting will also feature Texas Representative Bill Flore. Lloyd said Flores was originally going to announce Sessions to the crowd, but now he is staging his run for the Speaker of the House position up for grabs.
“[The meeting] will also be interesting because Congressman Bill Flores will also be there, and he is now making a run for speaker of the House,” Lloyd said. This was new information to the club and was just announced, but Lloyd hopes that it helps get voters to come out and support.
Lloyd said there are a lot of people that want the position of Speaker, but they don’t have the means of getting it. Flores is making a stand, and Lloyd hopes the Waco community will come out and hear his message.
Patterson also hopes the two powerful leaders will intrigue the community to come out and attend the meeting.
“We continue to look for ways to get elected officials in front of voters so they can make informed decisions about who will represent them in our government,” Patterson said.
Sessions represents the 32nd district of Texas in addition to serving as the chairman of the House Rules Committee, which is the legislative gatekeeper for Congress. The committee assists in scheduling legislation for floor consideration, balancing the congressional budget and ethics process, and smoothing over the relations between the three branches of the federal government. Sessions was also elected chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2008 and 2009.
The meeting is scheduled for noon today. A meal will be served at 11:45 a.m. and will cost $12 to eat. The event includes free admission and will be held in Knox Hall at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum.
