Speaker Straus Rebuttal

Texas house Speaker Joe Straus has responded to Rep. Bryan Hughes's accusation that someone on his leadership team threatened to change the districts of lawmakers that don't back Straus. His statement in full is below. "These allegations are outrageous and I have a call into Rep. Hughes to insist that he name the individual with whom he had this alleged conversation.  I did not and would never authorize, allow, or condone linking redistricting in any way with the Speaker’s race, and anyone who knows me knows better than to give that assertion any credence.    When Rep. Hughes called me earlier today to discuss his pledge, he never offered this as an explanation.  He did say that revoking his pledge to me was more difficult than revoking his pledge in previous Speaker's races." For now Speaker Straus has the support to win re-election in January but conservative grassroots groups have led daily attacks on his leadership. The groups say an overwhelmingly Republican House needs a more conservative speaker.