AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today after Texas House Chairman Dennis Bonnen announced he has the votes to be elected as the next speaker of the Texas House:

“I congratulate Chairman Bonnen on his announcement today that he has secured a path to be elected the next Speaker of the Texas House. Texas is stronger when leadership works collaboratively. I look forward to building a close partnership with him moving forward. I know Dennis shares my commitment and the governor’s commitment to property tax and school finance reforms and I look forward to working with him on those issues and many of the other urgent challenges we are facing in the state. If the governor, the speaker and the lieutenant governor are on the same on page there is nothing Texas can’t do.”