For House Speaker, a Different Kind of Challenge
Is Joe Straus actually in trouble?
The San Antonio Republican has been speaker of the Texas House since 2009, when he wrested it away from Tom Craddick, the dean of the House. Straus fended off a challenger in 2011, and now, he has one declared opponent and at least one more in the wings. A leading Democrat, irked that Straus was elected by Democrats but caters to Republicans, has been stoking the complaints. And conservative activists outside the government — a faction that fed the 2011 challenge — is trying to stir up more trouble this year.
That said, it’s hard ...
Comments (7)
Neva Purnell
I'm not supporting Straus, but I am firmly convinced that we need a Speaker from a major metropolitan area. I worked in the Legislature for five years, both times for urban Reps., and found that though the rural members were often really fine people, like Speaker Laney, the needs of the urban areas were neglected because the rural areas still held sway. Maybe East Texas knows about meth-labs, but they don't seem to support rehabilitation. While, West Texas may know cotton and oil, they don't seem to care what fracking does to our water. Again, I'm not dissing rural issues, I just believe there is an absence of focus, as one might expect, on urban issues. If we all still lived in rural areas fine, but not in 2014!
Arthur M. Thomas IV via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Informing people about this which no one is paying attention to except political die hards is more important that informing people about who was actually running against him int he election? Oh boy.
T.G. Caraway via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I did not know that The Speaker had a "paw"!
Bob Hall
Texans in general and especially conservative Texans deserve a true conservative as Speaker of the House. From a good study of their track-records, it is absolutely clear that Bryan Hughes would be a far better conservative Speaker than Joe Straus. In fact a Fence Post would no less damage to Texas and be a better Speaker than Joe Straus.
No doubt this will be tough challenge. Joe Straus has served his money master well and has amassed a lot of power and influence with those who control the big bucks in Austin; including the more influential Democrats. It will take Republican state Reps with integrity, courage and a commitment to "service before self" to stand firmly on principle and replace Joe Straus. A true conservative with integrity could not vote for Joe Straus even if he was the only one running.
Read the following to learn why Texas would be bette of with a fence post than Joe Straus as Speaker.
http://www.voicesempower.com/texas-needs-and-deserves-a-new-speaker-of-the-house/
Proud Texan
Funny you should mention a fence post. That's exactly what Bryan Hughes was during the last speaker's race when he was present not voting.
daphne french
Some of these "conservative activists" don't make sense! bit.ly/TEkMDv
gypsy314 ne
Watch I bet every democrat will support this rhino I say this says it all right there.