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AUSTIN House Speaker Joe Straus picked up the support of key North Texas tea party lawmakers this week, making his re-election to the post appear inevitable. But there still should be a public vote on the matter in January, a campaign consultant to several staunchly conservative GOP House members said Friday.

Consultant Luke Macias said last weeks election sweep by Republican conservatives, both nationally and in Texas, makes it urgent that conservatives hold themselves and their colleagues to account.

Nothing could be better for the speakers race on the first day of the session than to have a vote, said Macias, who represents several of Straus most vocal House critics, such as GOP Reps. Jonathan Stickland of Bedford and Matt Schaefer of Tyler. Let the chips fall, and then move on to the business of governing.

Macias said Stickland, Schaefer and other House members who support Straus challenger, freshman Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, have long been aware of the discouraging math that makes Turner the longest of shots. But they still want a first-day vote, and Macias charged that Straus allies are fiercely resisting it.

Its about voting your district, Macias said, using legislative shorthand for when members break party or other lines to vote the way they believe their constituents would want.

He said conservative activists blame Straus for not allowing votes for tighter spending rules, more abortion restrictions and a constitutional amendment to bar government from putting a burden on religious liberty. Straus supporters noted that other bills Macias cited died in House committees, a sign that the majority was working its will in the chamber.

In none of Straus three earlier runs for speaker was there a contested vote as the session opened. Former Speaker Tom Craddick exited the 2009 contest days before Straus, R-San Antonio, was initially elevated to the Houses top spot. In 2011 and 2013, other House members announced bids for the job but withdrew before a vote.

This week, the pressure to shut down Turners bid intensified.

On Monday night, freshman Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, shocked some audience members at a meeting of the Northeast Tarrant Tea Party by saying Straus was a shoo-in and Turner was unqualified.

Late Thursday, tea party-backed North Texas House members such as Ron Simmons of Carrollton, Drew Springer of Muenster and James Frank of Wichita Falls issued a letter in which they joined Capriglione in endorsing Straus and saying they were proud of the accomplishments of the Texas House in recent years.

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Conservatives demand vote on House speakership as Straus gathers tea party backing

Chris Parker, a political science professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, spoke at Grinnell on Tuesday, Nov. 11, about his recent book Change They Cant Believe In: The Tea Party and Reactionary Politics in America. Parkers talk revolved around the rise and identity of the Tea Party within the American political system, with a particular emphasis on the psychology behind the movement.

Besides the unique and relevant nature of his book, Parker was invited to speak at Grinnell given his connections with the College. Fourteen years ago, Parker received a fellowship through the Consortium for Faculty Diversity in Liberal Arts Colleges that allowed him to teach two semesters at Grinnell while he finished his doctoral dissertation.

Grinnells a very special place for me, Parker said. It has played an instrumental role in my career.

As the head of Grinnells Political Science department, Professor Barbara Trish mentioned the continuing relationship between the College and Parker as she introduced Parker to the large audience.

We touch base with him at conferences whenever we see him, [and] I think weve talked to him when we had job openings to see if he has any insights or ideas about candidates who would be good for Grinnell, she said.

After Trishs introduction, Parker dove into his talk outlining his research on the Tea Party and its relation to the mainstream political establishment.

There is something that explains their distaste for Obama beyond politics, beyond even race, Parker observed.

Chris Parker returned to Grinnell College to discuss his new book, Change They Cant Believe In. Photo by Shadman Asif.

He identified several reactionary movements throughout American history, including the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s and the John Birch Society, which he thought closely resembled the role the Tea Party plays in our current society.

These people are always there, they just need something in the culture to activate them, Parker said.

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Chris Parker goes toe-to-toe with Tea Party

THE generations came together at a schools world war one tea party.

The British School in Wotton-Under-Edge hosted a tea party for the local senior citizens on Monday, November 10th.

Staff and pupils welcomed 72 citizens to learn from each other, commemorate the first world war and reflect on the schools term value of generosity.

The pupils made cakes and sandwiches for the guests and served the citizens refreshments throughout the party. The school orchestra and singing club entertained all by performing well known war tunes for a group sing-along.

Headteacher, Jane Clarkson said: It was an excellent day. We had a sing-along of wartime favourites and by the end of the party the majority of the school came together to be with the citizens and sing.

Each term we have a new value, last year it was the value of respect and it was important to tie in the theme of generosity at the party.

Governors and staff also joined in with the war themed musical feast. The tea party also encouraged all to reflect on those who sacrificed during world conflicts.

Mrs Clarkson said: Weve had a lot of really positive feedback from the people who came along, lots of letters thanking us and asking us to do it again. We are pleased and proud of all the pupils and hope to have another tea party.

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War time tea party at Wotton school

Tea Party Winners Obama Losers (part 5 of 12)
Rush Limbaugh gives homage to Scott Walker and the blueprint for the Republican Party if anyone wants to WIN !!! Mia Love Wins. Saira Blair 18 years old dest...

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Tea Party Winners Obama Losers (part 5 of 12) - Video

No one rose up to challenge House Speaker John Boehner this fall. Now, even his staunchest GOP critics say theyll end up voting Thursday afternoon to give the Ohio Republican another two years with no other options out there.

Even some of the dozen conservatives who launched a failed bid to oust Boehner in early 2013 said theyre sticking with the current leadership team, which includes Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.).

Challenges to leadership are very unusual in the history of Congress, and the Speaker and his team have done a great job of raising money, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) said in an interview Thursday. Im planning to vote for him later today.

Another conservative critic, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), has committed to backing Boehner, saying he feels the leadership team has finally begun to listen to input from the right. And Rep. Ral Labrador (R-Idaho), who challenged McCarthy for the No. 2 job earlier this summer, said he has no plans to shake up the current leadership team.

But several Tea Party Republicans signaled that theyll be holding their noses as they cast a ballot for Boehner in a closed-door meeting in the Cannon House Office Building.

Conservative Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) said he was voting for Boehner because theres really not any other options. Huelskamp refused to commit to voting for Boehner in a second vote in January on the House floor, saying thats an issue for next year, and we havent got that far.

And one of the most outspoken Boehner foes, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), said he would probably end up voting to give the Speaker a third term but would wait until the last minute to make his decision.

I want to see if there are any opportunities, Jones told The Hill. If there are no opportunities, then I will end up supporting leadership. If there are opportunities, then I will consider opportunities.

Rep.-elect Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) stated plainly on the campaign trail that he wouldn't support Boehner for Speaker. But as he arrived on Capitol Hill Wednesday for freshman orientation, he was backing off that pledge, suggesting he'd get behind whoever won the leadership elections.

"I don't know if anybody else is running. That's the only one I know is running at this time," Loudermilk said of Boehner. "Whoever comes out of that conference, we're going to be behind."

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Tea Party critics will hold noses, vote for Boehner as Speaker