Meet the Freshmen: Brent Money
Money has stressed the importance of actions over rhetoric when it comes to lawmakers in the Texas House.
By Brandon Waltens | January 3, 2025 – After navigating four elections in the course of a year due to a vacancy, Greenville attorney Brent Money is eager to be sworn into the Texas House later this month.
Money said his decision to run was motivated by concerns about government overreach and a loss of freedoms in Texas.
“I’m just concerned about Texas and about losing liberties that I think we’ve taken for granted,” Money said. “As regulations and taxes go higher, we see the state government focusing on things that are not in the proper role of government.”
A significant part of Money’s focus is on reforming the Texas House, which he believes requires both cultural and structural changes.
“I think it’s a culture change, and it’s rules, and in some places, it’s going to be changing people out,” Money said. “The voters of the state of Texas made a statement in March and November that they wanted a different kind of representative in the Texas House. We’ve seen a wave of conservative, reform-minded Republicans coming in that I think will create a culture change in the House.”
Money pointed to the ongoing Speaker’s race as evidence of this shift. “The fact that we’re having a contested Speaker’s race less than two weeks from the final vote is evidence of that,” he said. “With this new wave of people, there’s going to be a change in culture, a change in some of the rules, and I think people who don’t recognize that this is what the voters in Texas are expecting will face tough elections next time around.”
Money emphasized the need for reforms that empower House members over leadership, ensuring that conservative policies can advance.
“Conservative policy should be able to pass. The problem is the structure of the House has been preventing it,” he said. “If we reform the House so the members are actually in charge instead of the Speaker and the Speaker’s team—whoever that may be—then good policy will pass, and unpopular policy won’t.”
For his legislative agenda, Money has identified several priorities. “I’m going to be focused on abolishing abortion, eliminating property taxes, and getting rid of wind farms,” he said. “Those are some of the issues I’m tackling early.”
When asked how his constituents should hold him accountable, Money stressed the importance of actions over rhetoric.
“I think the main thing is to pay attention to what we actually do, not just what we say,” Money said. “Most people that run for office know what their voters want to hear and are pretty skilled at repeating those things. Look at what we actually do and what we’re willing to fight for—when we’re willing to put personal ambitions or status in the House at risk to fight for what’s important.”
He also encouraged constituents to communicate directly with him. “Come to the Capitol, meet me in the district, and tell me what I need to do better or what you like that I’m doing.”
This article originally appeared here.
