Straus appears to have cinched TX House Speaker position

Now that Rep. John Smithee has pulled out of the Speakers’ race, it appears Rep. Straus will become the next Texas House Speaker. Here is some information being circulated on Rep. Straus:

Rep. Joe Straus III

• District 121, which includes the communities of Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, Terrell Hills, Windcrest, and northeast San Antonio.
• Elected to the Texas House of Representatives in a special election in February 2005. Filled seat held by Elizabeth Ames Jones, whom the Governor appointed to the RR Commission.
• During the most recent legislative session, he was appointed to the Committee on Economic Development, where he serves as vice-chairman, the Committee on Regulated Industries, and the Local and Consent Calendars Committee. As a member of the Regulated Industries Committee, Representative Straus chaired the Subcommittee on Energy Conservation and Efficiency, which developed a major bill that puts Texas on the cutting edge of energy efficiency. Representative Straus has also been appointed to the Select Committee on Electric Generation Capacity and Environmental Effects, which will study the state's energy demand and expected growth for the next 50 years in order to develop long-term energy plans for Texas.
• Received the Defender of the American Dream Award in 2008 from Americans for Prosperity for his record of commitment for protecting taxpayers.
• Received the Texas Public Power Association's Public Official Award for leadership and contributions to public power. He was also given the Legislative Service Award by the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club for his work in the area of energy efficiency
• Has previously served on the Management Committee of the Bexar County Republican Party, as a precinct chairman, and on numerous campaign committees for federal, state, and local candidates. He served in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 through 1991 as Deputy Director of Business Liaison at the U.S. Department of Commerce and also in the Reagan administration as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Customs. In 1986, he was U.S. Representative Lamar Smith's campaign manager in Smith's first race for Congress. In the Texas House, Representative Straus serves as a member of the House Republican Caucus Policy Committee.
• Was selected by the Speaker of the House to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2006 Leadership Institute for legislators who show outstanding leadership promise and the ability to effect change. In 2008, Texas Monthly selected Representative Straus as one of the 35 Texans who will shape the future of the state.
• Is a principal in the insurance and executive benefits firm of Watson, Mazur, Bennett & Straus, L.L.C. He is affiliated with National Financial Partners, a leading financial services company in the insurance, investments, and benefits industry
• Currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center as well as on the Texas Cord Blood Bank. Previously Mr. Straus served on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Zoological Society, the Texas Nature Conservancy, the Southwest School of Art and Craft, and the Winston School.
• Graduate of Vanderbilt University with a B.A. in Political Science. He is an avid sportsman with a lifelong passion for Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding. He is married to Julie Brink Straus. They have two daughters, Sara and Robyn
• 2008 Election: only opponent was Libertarian, Straus received 77% of the vote.
• The son of San Antonio grandee and GOP stalwart Jocelyn (Joci) Straus and Joe Jr. Joci and Joe serviced as chair of the UT Health Science Center’s Development Board for 20 years.
• Parents Joci and Joe Straus Jr. are significant donors to Planned Parenthood of San Antonio. ($1,000 per year for five years.)
• Received $1000 campaign contribution from Planned Parenthood of San Antonio's PAC in 8/2008. Also receive campaign contributions from Mindi Alterman, Chair of the board of PP/San Antonio, totaling $600 (in 2005 and 2007).
• "As for abortion, Straus noted that he supports restrictions on the procedure, including a requirement that parents give their consent before their minor children terminate a pregnancy. But he also made it clear that he favors laws that give women abortion rights. 'I support existing laws on abortion,' he said. 'I believe the laws that are currently in place are not at this point a state matter.' " AP 1/5/09
• Currently has more than $622k in his campaign account, Texans for Joe Straus.
• “Genial and pragmatic, he’s a proponent of low taxes, economic growth, and other totems of fiscal conservatism, but he’s no friend to hectoring social conservatives—and he’s all for lowering the level of anger at the Capitol. He’s also one of the rare pols who see their time in office as public service.” Texas Monthly