| − | '''Joseph Richard Straus, III''', known as '''Joe Straus''' (born September 1, 1959), is a [[Moderate Republican]] state representative from [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], who has been since January 2009 the [[Speaker]] of the Texas House of Representatives. He was initially elected to the House in a special election held in January 2005 to succeed Elizabeth Ames Jones, who resigned to join the [[Texas Railroad Commission]], a post she has since vacated. A youthful admirer of the late [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Tower]], for whom he was once a part-time chauffeur, Straus has, like Tower, supported [[pro-abortion]] interests. His critics claim that he has also undermined [[free enterprise]] economics,<ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=49917</ref> but he contends that he has been a champion for economic development, transportation, and public education. | + | '''Joseph Richard Straus, III''', known as '''Joe Straus''' (born September 1, 1959), is a [[Moderate Republican]] departing state representative from [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], who has been since January 2009 the [[Speaker]] of the Texas House of Representatives. He was initially elected to the House in a special election held in January 2005 to succeed Elizabeth Ames Jones, who resigned from the legislature to join the [[Texas Railroad Commission]], a post she has since vacated in an unsuccessful bid for the Texas State Senate. A youthful admirer of the late [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Tower]], for whom he was once a part-time chauffeur, Straus has, like Tower, supported [[pro-abortion]] interests. His critics claim that he has also undermined [[free enterprise]] economics,<ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=49917</ref> but he counters with the claim that he is a champion for economic development, transportation, and public education. |
| | Beebe favored having the Republican caucus choose the party's nominee for Speaker. Allison in contrast favors opening the floor for all nominations, with 76 of the 150 members required for a simple majority to become the Speaker. Beebe noted that statewide and in the district voters in the Republican primary approved a non-binding referendum that the Republican caucus should submit the party's nominee for Speaker.<ref>Jasper Scherer, "Allison, Beebe disagree on how to pick speaker", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 28, 2018, pp. 1, A11.</ref> Straus's candidate, Allison won the runoff over Beebe, 6,054 (57.5 percent) to 4,482 (42.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may22_326_race3.htm|title=Republican Primary Runoff Election Returns for Congressional District 21|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref> | | Beebe favored having the Republican caucus choose the party's nominee for Speaker. Allison in contrast favors opening the floor for all nominations, with 76 of the 150 members required for a simple majority to become the Speaker. Beebe noted that statewide and in the district voters in the Republican primary approved a non-binding referendum that the Republican caucus should submit the party's nominee for Speaker.<ref>Jasper Scherer, "Allison, Beebe disagree on how to pick speaker", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 28, 2018, pp. 1, A11.</ref> Straus's candidate, Allison won the runoff over Beebe, 6,054 (57.5 percent) to 4,482 (42.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may22_326_race3.htm|title=Republican Primary Runoff Election Returns for Congressional District 21|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref> |