Page 5 - AT

A5
U.S. NEWS Wednesday 23 OctOber 2019

Texas GOP speaker drops re-

election bid after secret tape

By CLARICE SILBER of the hourlong tape that Though he will not seek re-
Associated Press sparked among the big- election in 2020, Bonnen of
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tex- gest political scandal in Angleton, Texas, will serve
as' embattled GOP House the state in years. Bonnen's the rest of his first term as
speaker announced Tues- retreat puts Republicans' House speaker.
day that he won't seek re- fragile dominance of the The Texas Legislature won't
election after a growing state Legislature further at meet again until 2021,
number of Republicans stake. when lawmakers will re-
called for his resignation "After much prayer, con- draw voting maps and po-
following the release of a sultation, and thoughtful litical control of the House
secretly recorded conver- consideration with my fam- and Senate will be critical. In this May 23, 2019, file photo, Texas House Speaker Dennis
sation in which he sought ily, it is clear that I can no Heading into 2020, Demo- Bonnen, right, with Governor Greg Abbott, left, speaks at a news
help to oust members of longer seek re-election as crats can grab a majority conference at the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas.
his own caucus in 2020 and State Representative of Dis- if they flip nine seats in the Associated Press
used foul language to dis- trict 25, and subsequently, lower chamber.
parage Democrats. as Speaker of the House," The secretly recorded June ter of an ongoing state po- Republican Gov. Greg Ab-
bott, who remained largely
lice investigation. The lob-
The decision by Texas Bonnen said in a statement meeting between Bonnen
House Speaker Dennis that included a list of 43 and the head of a conser- bying group often criticizes silent after the tape was
Republicans it feels aren't released, thanked Bonnen
Bonnen comes less than House Republicans calling vative group called Em-
a week after the release for him to step down. power Texans is at the cen- conservative enough on in for his work but did not
issues such as spending, comment directly on the
Jimmy Carter hospitalized after abortion and guns, scandal.
"Looking ahead to 2020,
Bonnen can be heard ask-
fall at Georgia home ing for the help of Empower the Republican Party of
Texans CEO Michael Quinn Texas must unite and work
Sullivan in targeting several together to retain a major-
ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Jimmy Republican incumbents in ity in the Texas House," Ab-
Carter had another fall at his home in primaries next year. He also bott said in a statement.
Plains, Georgia, fracturing his pelvis and suggests he can provide a "To that cause, I am redou-
going to the hospital for treatment and news affiliate of Empower bling my efforts to ensure
observation, a spokeswoman said Tues- Texans with media creden- we achieve that goal."
day. tials for access to the House Five top House Republicans
Carter Center spokeswoman Deanna floor in exchange for the released a statement Mon-
Congileo described the fracture as minor. group's help. day night stating they no
Her statement said that the 95-year-old In this Monday, Oct. 7, 2019 file photo, Former Bonnen sought to drive out longer supported Bonnen.
was in good spirits at the Phoebe Sumter President Jimmy Carter answers questions moderate GOP members "It is clear that trust and
Medical Center after falling on Monday during a news conference at a Habitat for who he believed stood in confidence in the Speaker
evening, and that he was looking forward Humanity project, in Nashville, Tenn. the way of his agenda, and has significantly eroded
to recovering at home. Associated Press he used crude language among our membership,
This is the third time Carter has fallen in re- 92-year-old Rosalynn recently became while discussing freshman and the matter has both
cent months. He first fell in the spring and the longest married first couple, surpassing Democrats whose midterm damaged the reputation
required hip replacement surgery. George and Barbara Bush, with more than victories in 2018 weakened of the House and relation-
Carter fell again Oct. 6 and despite re- 73 years of marriage. the GOP's House majority. ships among individual
ceiving 14 stitches, traveled the same day The 39th president survived a dire cancer "Jon Rosenthal makes my members," they said.
to Nashville, Tennessee, to rally volunteers diagnosis in 2015, and last month, he mat- skin crawl. He's a piece of The Texas Republican Cau-
and, later, to help build a Habitat for Hu- ter-of-factly told an audience that they (expletive)," Bonnen said in cus condemned Bonnen's
manity home. Carter is the oldest living might be hearing his last annual Carter the recording. He refers to remarks in a statement re-
former president in U.S. history. He and Center address. q Michelle Beckley as "vile." leased on Friday.q