Inspired by a stunning rebuke from Straus’s own home county party, the Smith County GOP passed a resolution to censure the speaker for his repeated obstruction of conservative reforms – and they’re urging other county parties to do the same.
Last Tuesday, the Bexar County GOP passed a resolution supporting a change of leadership in the Texas House – a strong indictment of Straus in his home county for his repeated betrayal of conservative priorities. In that meeting, conservatives managed to capitalize on a rare opportunity to do so – despite hostile leadership.
“We of Bexar County GOP resolve that there should be a change in leadership in the Texas House speakership due to the non-support of the RPT platform by the current incumbent,” the Bexar GOP resolution reads in its entirety.
Following that rebuke, Smith County resolved to support this bold motion by proposing a more complete, supporting resolution for their body to vote on in the future. This new resolution concisely – yet thoroughly – details the case for Straus’ censure.
Non-support (and outright obstruction) of GOP priorities, appointing Democrats to key committees, referring to Abbott’s agenda as “horse-manure,” and rejecting the planks of the GOP platform are just a few of the reasons for censure articulated in the resolution.
“Resolved, that the following County and Precinct Chairs recommend that Speaker of the Texas House Joseph Richard Straus III be censured by the State Republican Executive Committee of Texas per Rule 44, for his dismal failure to support the core principles of the Republican Party of Texas Platform,” the resolution concludes.
So far, Smith, Bexar, Atascosa, Dewitt, and Real County GOPs have all passed similar resolutions rebuking the speaker.
For interested parties, a full version of the resolution is available here.
