Joe Straus

"The Daily Show" Does the Speaker's Race

By Evan Smith Feb. 4, 2011

The long-awaited Daily Show segment on alleged anti-Semitism in the 2011 Speaker's race was, predictably, funny. And that John Oliver: such a punim! Full Story
Texplainer: How Do You Get Tea Party Approved?

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 27, 2011

Last week, freshman state Rep. Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, had her “TeaApproved” status revoked by the North Texas Tea Party following her vote in favor of re-electing Speaker Joe Straus. How did she get “TeaApproved” in the first place? Full Story
A Conversation with Jim Pitts

By Evan Smith Jan. 17, 2011

For our latest TribLive conversation, I interviewed the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee about the budget shortfall, the possibility of new revenue sources, whether Joe Straus will retaliate against members who opposed him and whether Tea Party threats should be taken seriously. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
A Conversation With Jim Pitts

By Evan Smith Jan. 17, 2011

The Waxahachie Republican talks about the size of the budget shortfall, the possibility of new revenue sources and why he'd support legalized gambling. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Capitol Insecurity

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 14, 2011

When Andrew Cuomo took office as governor of New York earlier this month, he ordered the removal of the security barricades limiting access to his state’s Capitol. “This Capitol has become a physical metaphor for the isolation and alienation of our people,” he said in his inauguration speech. He could easily have been talking about Texas. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
HuTube: Behind the Scenes on Day One

By Elise Hu Jan. 11, 2011

In our latest HuTube video blog post, we take you to the Texas House on day one of the 82nd Legislative session. Come with us as we go through the new security system, visit with lawmakers and witness the election of the House Speaker. Full Story
On the Records: Visualizing Today's Speeches

By Matt Stiles Jan. 11, 2011

Our new transcripts of House and Senate floor proceedings, which we're planning to continue all session, give everyone the ability to search what elected officials say — but also to visualize their words. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Wordle.net
TribBlog: The First Non-Vote

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 11, 2011

After winning a rough and tumble contest for his seat, freshman state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, got his first chance at a record vote in the Texas House of Representatives today. And when that vote finally came, what did he do? He abstained. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribBlog: Straus in the House

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 11, 2011

The Texas House formally re-elected San Antonio Republican Speaker Joe Straus. By acclamation, they chose to stick with the moderate, "will-of-the-House" speaker as opposed to overthrowing him with someone more conservative. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Opening Day: The Liveblog

By Texas Tribune Staff Jan. 11, 2011

And they're back! Texas lawmakers returned to Austin on Tuesday to launch the 82nd Texas Legislature. Our reporters were there and produced this live play-by-play. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
TribBlog: Chisum Supports Straus

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 11, 2011

State Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, is dropping his challenge to House Speaker Joe Straus and will vote for the incumbent when the House convenes later today, he said in a letter released this morning. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Decision Time

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 11, 2011

The Texas Legislature today starts its 140-day effort to puzzle out a massive budget deficit, political redistricting, immigration and a slew of other gnarly problems. The budget issues came into focus Monday with new numbers from the comptroller, who says the state is recovering, slowly, from the recession. But first, legislators will get organized, voting on new rules, a new Speaker, and getting sworn in. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
TribBlog: Paxton Still In Speaker Race

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 10, 2011

State Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, will stay in the race for speaker tomorrow though he got spanked in the Republican Caucus today. More than two-thirds of the caucus membes expressed their support for Speaker Joe Straus in a non-binding preference poll conducted behind closed doors. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
Straus: Speaker's Race "Overanalyzed"

By Elise Hu Jan. 10, 2011

Despite loud protests from Tea Party groups that pushed for a more conservative leader, the Texas House Republican Caucus endorsed incumbent Speaker Joe Straus in an afternoon vote. Straus, appearing after the meeting, said the notion of a speaker's race was "overstudied and overanalyzed." Full Story
TribBlog: Republicans for Straus

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 10, 2011

House Speaker Joe Straus has the support of the House Republican legislative caucus, which met on the afternoon before the legislative session to take the measure of the incumbent and two challengers: Warren Chisum of Pampa and Ken Paxton of McKinney. With all but one of the 101 Republicans in the House present, 70 stood up to show their support for Straus in the closed meeting, according to legisaltors who were inside. With that done, there was no reason to check the support for the other two candidates. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Counting Straws

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 10, 2011

The House Republican Caucus will meet today to debate whether it should choose a favorite in the race for speaker of the House among the three candidates: the incumbent, Joe Straus of San Antonio, and Warren Chisum of Pampa and Ken Paxton of McKinney. But the vote's not binding. So why do it? Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman/Bob Daemmrich
TribBlog: Medina Prefers Straus to "Iron Fist" Leaders

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 9, 2011

Republicans might not all like House Speaker Joe Straus, but he's got a better chance than his predecessor to lead the House to "fiscally responsible, limited and just government," according to Debra Medina, the conservative activist and former Republican gubernatorial candidate. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribBlog: Patrick Wades Into Caucus Controversy

By Evan Smith Jan. 7, 2011

A speaker preference vote in the House Republican Caucus is "simply the right thing to do," state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, said Friday night, wading into a roiling controversy that has pit Republican against Republican in the aftermath of November's election. Full Story

Credit: Candidate photo
Green House

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 7, 2011

The biggest caucus in the Texas House is the Republicans', now with 101 members. Next? The Democrats', at 49. And then there’s the freshman class — one of the biggest in years — with 38 members. All but six are Republicans, and many of them replaced Democrats. They face some challenges. Full Story

Credit: Justin Dehn
TribBlog: Straus, Paxton and the Tea Party

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 6, 2011

Hoping to see a debate between the candidates for speaker? A group of Tea Party organizations recently posed an identical set of questions to Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, and contender Ken Paxton, R-McKinney. The result is not really a debate, but it might be the closest we get. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich