Posted 12:09 am Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Straus Claims Speaker Victory
From Staff, Wire Reports
Rep. Joe Straus laid claim to the powerful office of House speaker Monday, holding a triumphant news conference in the state capitol and laying out his vision for a new era of bipartisan leadership in the Texas House.
Rep. Joe Straus laid claim to the powerful office of House speaker Monday, holding a triumphant news conference in the state capitol and laying out his vision for a new era of bipartisan leadership in the Texas House.
The official vote doesn't take place until Jan. 13, but his two remaining opponents for the seat dropped out late Monday, after Straus showed that 104 representatives, more than two-thirds of the chamber, supported his candidacy. Speaker Tom Craddick abandoned his own candidacy on Sunday.
"In the coming days, I aim to meet with every member of the Texas House to better understand the needs of their districts and build trust and confidence in the legislative process," Straus said. The heir-apparent to the speaker's office also paid tribute to Craddick, who abruptly pulled out of the race Sunday night after key supporters abandoned him.
Straus said Craddick "should be honored for his historic public service."
But conservative Republicans aren't happy.
Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said Straus' appointment would be a "disaster" for the Republican majority. He said the 12 Republican dissidents have sold out to the Democrats.
Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said Straus' appointment would be a "disaster" for the Republican majority. He said the 12 Republican dissidents have sold out to the Democrats.
He contends the move by the 12 is not one of bipartisanship but a power move by Democrats pretending to be Republicans.
"It's destroying the Republican Party in Texas," he said. "These 12 Republicans should be tarred and feathered. They are calling themselves Republicans just to get re-elected."
Earlier, in an interview with The Associated Press, Straus vowed to reduce the influence of special interests in Austin and promised to never use the post for personal gain.
Craddick's withdrawal makes Straus the clear front-runner in the race to succeed him.
Straus will inherit one of the most powerful positions in state government. The speaker sets the agenda in the Texas House and, in terms of political influence, is on par with the governor and lieutenant governor.
A wealthy San Antonio businessman, Straus, 49, was not measuring the curtains yet in the spacious speaker's apartment. In fact, Straus, whose teenage daughters attend school in San Antonio, said he had no plans to even live in the recently renovated capitol residence. But he told the AP he was looking ahead to the 2009 session and promised to heal wounds and push reforms in the badly divided House chamber.
Many members have long complained that Craddick, the first GOP speaker since the Civil War era, ruled with an iron fist and gave lobbyists too much sway over policy deliberations.
"There's been this feeling that from time to time there's been undue pressure and influence from special interests and I want the members to know that I'm going to protect them to do what their districts want them to do on issues," Straus said. "The lobby plays an important role in forming public policy, but they shouldn't dominate and members should feel free to act in the interests of people who sent them here."
Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, said Straus is willing to reach across party lines and build consensus. "I think Joe will go down in history as one of the great speakers because of his tone and temperament," Branch said. GOP critics have complained that Straus has more Democrats on his team than Republicans. But Branch noted that at 76-74, the GOP's lead in the House chamber is razor thin. "Joe understands that even as a Republican it's critical for Texans that we have people that can reach across the aisle and work in a bipartisan way," Branch said.
Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, one of the first Democrats to file for speaker, said she was "delightfully shocked" to learn that Straus had emerged as the front-runner earlier in the weekend. Republicans "couldn't have chosen a better person to fill that post."
A core group of conservative Republicans, the bedrock of Craddick's old coalition, complain that Straus is not one of them, that he's too liberal on abortion and gambling issues in particular. Straus' family has been in the horse racing business for close to 100 years, and anti-gambling forces fear he would use his powerful post to promote an expansion of gambling in Texas.
Straus, whose family holds a stake in San Antonio's Retama Park horse track, said he would take a hands-off approach to gambling bills and allow the chamber to exercise its will. "I will not be involved in an issue, any issue, where my personal interests will be advanced," Straus said in the AP interview. "I don't have a role in Retama," he added. "I have a small limited partnership interest. ... I don't have any management or decision-making role in anything related to that industry."
As for abortion, Straus noted that he supports restrictions on the procedure, including a requirement that parents give their consent before their minor children terminate a pregnancy. But he also made it clear that he favors laws that give women abortion rights.
"I support existing laws on abortion," he said. "I believe the laws that are currently in place are not at this point a state matter."
