Republicans strip power from Dem who shocked with red state upset

Texas Republicans have moved to ensure that a Democratic lawmaker elected in a shock special election upset earlier this year will effectively have no power — at least for the time being.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "On Monday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced which senators would fill committee vacancies, following recent membership shakeups ... Newly sworn in Sen. Taylor Rehmet wasn’t among the senators named on the lieutenant governor’s latest list of committee...