July 18, 2017
Steven F. Hotze
Editor-in Chief, CRTX News
www.crtxnews.com
The Special Session of the Texas Legislature began this morning.
In order for Gov. Abbot’s and Lt. Gov. Patrick’s conservative agenda to be passed the Republican state representatives must “Oust Straus.”
Straus had the gall to call Gov. Greg Abbott’s Special Session a “Pile of Manure.” Straus threw down the gauntlet to both Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Both Abbott and Patrick are strong, outspoken conservatives who were elected to their respective offices in 2014 by over 58% of Texas voters. Abbott and Patrick represent the mainstream view of Texans.
RINO Straus was quoted in The New Yorker Magazine. “We came very close this session to passing a sweepingly discriminatory policy. It would have sent a very negative message around the country.”
“The legislature is not obligated to act upon his (Gov. Abbott’s) agenda items within the thirty-day period. And the Governor would have the option to call as many thirty-day sessions as he would like. We’re under no obligation to pass anything.”
This was a slap in the face of Gov. Abbott by RINO Straus. The fact Straus seems to be begging for a fight with Abbott and Patrick, demonstrates Straus haughty pride. We will see if he is really man enough to take on Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, the Republican dominated Texas Senate and House and the overwhelming majority of Republican Primary voters, nearly 70%, who want Straus removed as speaker and replaced by a conservative Republican.
It appears obvious to any unbiased observer that RINO Straus will once again kill the very same conservative bills in the Special Session that he killed during the regular session.
This is why we must “Oust Straus!”
Joe Straus has proven himself to be a RINO, a Republican in Name Only. He does not align with the conservative views of the clear majority of Republicans. Polls confirm that nearly 70% of Republicans want to “Oust Straus,” remove him as Speaker and replace him with a conservative Republican. Last Tuesday, July 11, Straus’ own Bexar County Republican Party Executive Committee passed a resolution calling for Straus’ removal from the Speaker’s position, by an overwhelming 2-1 margin.
The Texas Speaker is not elected in a statewide election. That is why Straus has a low name idea and is unknown among most voters. The Speaker of the Texas House is elected by a majority of the 150 members of the Texas House. That is why you will need to work to elect state representative candidates who oppose Straus in the March 2018 Republican Primaries.
Straus would be beaten like a drum if he were to run statewide in a Republican Primary. It was rumored, before Straus’ dismal performance during the recent regular legislative session, that he was considering a run against Lt. Gov. Patrick in the 2018 Republican Primary. Patrick would crush Straus like a grape if Straus were to challenge him.
Straus is way out of the mainstream of most Texans. Last Friday, Straus said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News that “I know how to govern without being an extremist.” What in the world is he talking about?
Joe Straus is an extremist who sides with the Democrat minority in the Texas House, and blocks conservative legislation passed by Lt. Gov. Patrick and the Texas Senate.
Straus sees no problem with men, who claim to be women, from entering women’s and girls’ bathrooms, showers and locker rooms. Straus blocked SB 6, the Women’s Privacy Act, “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms!” in the regular session and plans on blocking it again in the Special Session.
Straus obviously does not care about protecting the privacy and safety of women and girls. Straus would rather hob nob with his business lobbyist friends and accept their campaign money than protect women and girls. Over 80% of Texans do not want men allowed to enter women’s bathrooms. Yet Straus said “Texas is off track with proposals such as the Bathroom Bill.” Straus is the extremist on this and other conservative issues.
Straus’ base is built upon the 55 Democrat state representatives in the Texas House, plus 21 RINO state reps. Straus only needs 76 votes to retain his position.
The battle royal over the future political direction of Texas will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, June 18, in the Special Session of the Texas Legislature called by Gov. Greg Abbott.
I am not going to tell you that RINO Joe Straus, the current Speaker of the Texas House, has made it clear that he is going to “deep six” Gov. Abbott’s conservative agenda in the upcoming Special Session. Read his quotes below and decide for yourself.
Straus has a political rivalry with both Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick. Straus represents the business, money and lobbyist interests in Texas and the “Country Club” Establishment Republicans who opposed Donald Trump. Abbott and Patrick represent the grassroots conservative Republican voters of Texas.
RINO Straus wanted to make sure that Gov. Abbott’s and Lt. Gov. Patrick’s conservative legislative agenda failed in the Regular Session and it did. Now, RINO Straus wants to kill this conservative agenda in the Special Session.
CRTX News has posted 3 Facebook videos, all of which have gone viral, since June 1, advocating “Oust Straus.” These CRTX News videos have been viewed by over 1,200,000 Republican voters. Dr. Hotze’s most recent Facebook video entitled, “Oust Straus” has reached over 706,846 Republican primary voters and been viewed by over 678,000. This is a 96% viewing rate. The likes have been 93% positive. You may view it at, https://www.facebook.com/CRTxNews/videos/381286528939705/.
These results add emphasis to CRTX News’ statewide poll which showed that 68% of Republican primary voters agreed that RINO Straus needs to be removed as Speaker of the Texas House and replaced with a conservative Republican.
RINO Straus opposes SB 6, the Women’s Privacy Act, “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms!” A recent CRTX News poll in RINO Straus’ home district demonstrated that 81% of his constituents agree that men should not be allowed in women’s bathrooms. Straus is out of step with his own home district.
It is not surprising that this last Tuesday night, July 11, there was a coup in San Antonio against RINO Speaker Joe Straus. The Bexar County Republican Party, where San Antonio is located, had a vote of “No Confidence” on RINO Straus’ leadership as speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. This was one more nail driven into RINO Straus’ coffin.
Two resolutions were passed by the precinct chairs of Bexar County. They were both introduced by precinct chairman, Mike O’Donnell.
Resolution #1 – I move that we of the Bexar County GOP support Governor Abbott’s and Lt. Gov. Patrick’s agenda for the upcoming special legislative session — with special emphasis on the “bathroom bill.”
Resolution #2 – I move that we of the Bexar County support a change of leadership in the Texas House Speakership because of a lack of support for the Republican Party of Texas Platform by the current incumbent (RINO Straus).
These Resolutions passed by a 2-1 margin.
This rejection by his home county Republican party is a death blow to RINO Straus from which he will not be able to recover.
Texas is the most conservative state in America. We have both a conservative Republican Governor and Lt. Governor. Republicans have a 20-11 majority in the Texas Senate. The Republicans outnumber the Democrats 95-55 in the Texas House, yet Straus has appointed an equal number of Democrats as Republicans to Committee Chairmanship or Vice-Chairmanship leadership positions. Most of the Republicans that RINO Straus appointed were RINO Republicans. This is why almost all the conservative legislation passed by the Texas Senate under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick never had a chance to pass in the Texas House.
RINO Straus currently has as his base support, 55 Dems who have agreed to support him. All RINO Straus needs is 21 RINO Republican state representatives to support him to keep his position as speaker. This is why RINO Straus did not even allow committee hearings on numerous conservative bills that were supported by Governor Abbott and passed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Texas Senate.
With 95 Republican state representatives, out of 150 in the Texas House, it is inconceivable that we do not have a stalwart conservative Republican as Speaker of the Texas House.
With Gov. Abbott’s call to add SB 6, The Women’s Privacy Act, “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms!”, to the Special Session, many state representatives realize that they must replace Straus as Speaker in this Special Session. They realize that their constituents want them to protect the privacy and safety of women and girls in public and school bathrooms, showers and locker rooms, as well as pass the conservative legislation supported by Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick. RINO Straus opposes SB 6 because he vehemently opposes Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and wants to do whatever is necessary to block their conservative agenda.
Straus’ opposition to protecting the privacy and safety of women and girls is inexplicable. My experience has taught me that when a politician does something that makes no sense and that is in direct opposition to the wishes of the voters in his district, then there must be a money trail somewhere. You have to ask yourself the question, “Who are the money people that are influencing Straus to oppose the Women’s Privacy Act?”
During the recent regular legislative session RINO Straus and his puppeteer, Rep. Byron Cook, and their “Lieutenants,” as they are called, blocked all but a few conservative measures supported by Gov. Greg Abbott and passed by the Texas Senate. Now the chicken has come home to roost for Straus and his RINO Republican state representative supporters.
During the recent legislative session, RINO Straus not only blocked SB 6, but he also blocked the following conservative bills:
- Providing for property tax reform
- Providing school vouchers for special needs children
- Spending limits on local and state governments
- Prohibition for state and local governments for collecting union dues
- Prohibiting state and local governments for spending money on killing unborn children
- Prohibiting insurance companies from requiring coverage for killing unborn children
- Preventing voter fraud
- Restricting local governments’ ability to confiscate private property through “Eminent Domain.”
These and other issues will be addressed in the Special Session.
Gov. Abbott was forced to call the Special Session because RINO Straus blocked conservative legislation passed by the Texas Senate and supported by Gov. Abbott.
RINO Straus receives more money from the liberal labor unions than any other Republican State Speakers and all but 3 Democrat State Speakers in the United States. Straus received $195,000 from the alt-left unions prior to his 2014 race for state representative. This past legislative session Straus and his House Committee Chairmen killed a bill that passed the Texas Senate that would have ended the collection of union dues by local and state governments on behalf of public employee unions that then direct most of those funds to elect Democrats.
RINO Straus supports the pro-abortion agenda. RINO Straus voted for third-trimester abortions in 2005, received a 100% rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League in 2007, and Straus received $1,000 from Planned Parenthood in 2008. No wonder Planned Parenthood thanked him for his “tireless work” in 2009 after he became House Speaker.
RINO Straus has remained silent in the face of exposé videos which document that Planned Parenthood has profited from the sale of baby body parts.
RINO Straus vehemently opposes SB 6, the Women’s Privacy Act, “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms!” Why would anyone support allowing perverted men and boys to use enter women’s and girls’ public and school bathrooms, showers and locker rooms, much less Straus, the Republican speaker of the Texas House, who is married with two daughters? I just don’t get it! Not only is SB 6 the right thing to do, it is politically supported by 84% of Republican Primary voters.
RINO Straus also blocked SB 2, the Property Tax Reduction Bill, in the Texas House. Under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, it overwhelmingly passed the Texas Senate 18-12.
Time and time again liberal, career, RINO politician Straus has either blocked or watered down conservative legislation passed by the Texas Senate under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Since the Texas House leadership is made up of RINOs, the disturbing result is that mainstream conservative legislation, which passes the Texas Senate, ultimately dies in the House. As the Speaker of the House, Straus has worked overtime to oppose Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick, and block the passage of conservative legislation. RINO Straus uses his committee chairmen to delay and block conservative bills. Straus has killed conservative bills in session after session.
The Republican state representatives know that their failure to pass these strong pieces of conservative legislation will make them vulnerable to conservative opponents in the upcoming 2018 primaries. They do not want RINO Straus’ liberal politics wrapped around their neck when they run for reelection in the upcoming March 2018 Republican Primary elections.
I am not going to tell you that Straus must be removed from the Speaker position in the Special Session in order for conservative legislation to be adopted. You can decide that for yourself.
Texas Republicans deserve better! It’s time for a change.
The Executive Committee of the Bexar County Republican Party has put another nail in RINO Straus’ coffin by their vote of “No Confidence” for Straus.
Contact your Republican state representative today and tell him or her to vote to remove RINO Straus from the speaker position in the upcoming Special Session which begins on July 18. You can click on this link to find out who your state representative is, http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/find-your-representative/.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a Speaker of the House who was as conservative as Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick?
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