Updated: Straus Shakes Up Communications Team

Updated 10:21 a.m.: 

On the heels of his announcement that Jason Embry, the Austin American-Statesman's Capitol bureau chief, was joining his communications team, House Speaker Joe Straus has named a second press secretary. Erin Daly, an Austin native, most recently served as communications director for U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-WA.  

“I’m pleased to welcome Jason and Erin to the Capitol,” Straus said. “...Erin’s diverse media and messaging expertise will be essential to helping my office effectively communicate with the Legislature and the people of Texas about the important issues we address in the House.”

Original story: 

Austin American-Statesman political reporter Jason Embry resigned his position at the paper on Tuesday to become House Speaker Joe Straus' press secretary. 

“I’m pleased to welcome Jason to the speaker’s office," Straus said in a statement. "His insights into the legislative process and knowledge of both the issues and the members themselves will serve not only my office, but also the state of Texas, well." 

Embry, the Statesman's Capitol bureau chief, has been at the paper since 2003. He has covered the Capitol since 2004, aside from a one-year stint as the paper's correspondent in Washington, D.C. Before working at the Statesman, Embry spent a year at the Killeen Daily Herald and three years at the Waco Tribune-Herald. 

In his statement, Straus said that he will be making "additional personnel announcements" in the coming weeks "as we put in place the strongest possible team to address the many challenges we will face during the next legislative session.”