Uncategorized
May 19, 2023

Straus: Funding for Texas schools hangs in the balance

My latest editorial in the San Antonio Express-News. Click here to view on the Express-News website, or continue reading for the full piece below. Straus: Funding for Texas schools hangs…
Uncategorized
May 15, 2023

As Bush showed, leaders can be strong and unifying at the same time

My latest editorial in the Dallas Morning News. Click here to view on the DMN website, or continue reading for the full piece below. As Bush showed, leaders can be…
Uncategorized
June 8, 2020

Straus: Message to this year’s graduates: Help us rise up

I’ve given my share of commencement addresses, and in the 14 years that I was a Texas lawmaker, every May I wrote a letter to graduates. These speeches and letters…
Uncategorized
April 13, 2020

Straus: Coronavirus crisis shows need for leadership

When the Express-News asked me to share my thoughts on leadership during this time of crisis, they couldn’t have known how personal the topic would soon become for me: A…
Uncategorized
December 21, 2019

Straus: Nothing conservative about dismantling state’s budget agency

A recent report in the Texas Tribune brought to light a development that should trouble any Texan who cares about responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars: the slow and unnecessary death…
Uncategorized
November 6, 2019

Joe Straus: Texas Republicans have one year to regain momentum

Ready or not, the 2020 elections are here, with candidate filing in Texas beginning Saturday. The stakes are high for our country, of course, and they are also high for…
Uncategorized
September 9, 2019

Straus: Special session needed now on gun reform in Texas

When I was Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, I was not a fan of special legislative sessions. Many of the six special sessions called while I was the…
Uncategorized
August 17, 2019

Joe Straus: Combating hatred and violence requires moral credibility from all of our political leaders

Lionel Gutierrez was just driving his family to the movies in El Paso. But he's also a police officer who was off duty at the time of the terror attack…
Uncategorized
June 26, 2019

Straus launches new PAC: Texas Forever Forward

Former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus today announced the formation of Texas Forever Forward, a political committee that will promote a thoughtful, conservative approach to governing and rising political leaders…
Uncategorized
March 23, 2019

Now is the time for full-day, high-quality pre-K

As the Legislature completes its once-in-a-generation effort to overhaul the school finance system, all who understand that education is our greatest economic development tool have a responsibility to speak up…
Uncategorized
January 2, 2019

I’m leaving the Texas Legislature but not the debate

As the presiding officer of the House, I have tried to bring people together around common-sense policies that address the challenges posed by a rapidly growing population.
Uncategorized
October 31, 2018

We need leaders who can bring us together

We need people in public office who see division in our country as a challenge that needs to be resolved, rather than an opportunity that needs to be exploited.
Uncategorized
December 31, 2017

Texan of the Year: Joe Straus took a principled stand to protect Texas

For his uncommon impact, Joe Straus is the 15th annual Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year.
Uncategorized
December 1, 2017

Joe Straus on Giving Up the Gavel

Soon to be freed from his legislative duties, Straus looks ahead at what’s next for his career.