POSTED: Monday, January 3, 2011 - 11:41pm
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 4, 2011 - 1:21pm
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Conservative activists in Texas are urging
lawmakers to dump Republican House Speaker Joe Straus in favor of a
more conservative legislator.
The head of the Texas Eagle Forum, Pat Carlson, wrote a letter
Monday calling on lawmakers to vote against Straus when the Texas
Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 11.
She said the group, which advocates for socially conservative positions on issues like gay
rights and abortion, will keep track of how legislators vote in the
speaker's race.
Two conservative Republicans, Warren Chisum of Pampa and Ken Paxton of McKinney, are vying to replace Straus.
The Texas Alliance for Life, a leading Texas anti-abortion
group, endorsed Paxton.
Straus has touted his own support from conservatives. He's said
he has enough votes to be re-elected to a second term at the helm
of the Texas House.