Joe Straus, Riding High After Special Session, Could Still Choose to Hang Up His Spurs as Texas House Speaker

On the Friday before the end of the regular legislative session, just as he's done in the past, Joe Straus filed for re-election as House speaker.But there's a good chance the San Antonio Republican won't return for an unprecedented sixth term as leader of the House.His candidate filing was before the summer special session convened, and it would have been disastrous for him to be a lame duck when his supporters needed him to ride tall in the saddle when confronting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.  Continue reading...