Texas GOP leaders defend appointee after tense exchange over diversity hiring

Several of Texas’ top Republicans are defending Gov. Greg Abbott’s pick to head the state’s water agency following pointed questions from a GOP lawmaker over the agency’s diversity hiring policies. Texas Water Board Development Chair L’Oreal Stepney, who is Black, became visibly distraught after a dustup Thursday among members of an appropriations subcommittee. That came after GOP Rep. Brian Harrison questioned Stepney and other agency officials over their hiring practices. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows all expressed support on social media for Stepney and her service to the state.