Speaker Straus Waltzes Into Power

A brand new day in the Texas House. Straus says House agenda up to members: "Straus is promising to empower his committee leaders, let the members set the agenda and, most important for him, bring civility to the House floor." Speaker Straus is promising no retribution to the Craddick-supporting members.

My thoughts: If Straus treats the Craddick-supporting members fairly, there probably won't be a problem from the cosnervative side. Craddick's not coming back as Speaker, and Straus was not the cause of Craddick's downfall. The real danger would be if Straus over-indulges the Democrats to the point of disappointing conservatives, which may make some of the Republicans rebel and do to Straus what they did to Craddick. But that would be down the road. For now, Straus seems to be playing it just right, giving the House membership room to 'breathe' and do what they want. Both power and the attending power struggles may devolve t othe various committee fiefdoms.

A fly in the ointment: Speaker Straus will not do any heavy lifting to get Republican House members elected against Democrat incumbents. So who will?