House Speaker Joe Straus says he's now got 130 votes for re-election as speaker — and that the only thing new is that 99 Republicans instead of 76 will make the House a much more conservative body. But State Rep. Warren Chisum says he will continue the challenge to Straus that he announced three weeks ago.

The Pampa Republican told reporters crowded into his office this morning that the next speaker should be elected by the House Republican Caucus and that he's not convinced — in spite of Straus' claims — that the 130 members who've pledged their support to ...

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