House Speaker Joe Straus, R-Alamo Heights, has been intent on "letting the will of the House prevail" all session, and as a result, did away with former Speaker Tom Craddick's regular media availabilities. During Craddick's leadership, the speaker was available after most daily floor sessions to talk about whatever issues of the day or circumstances came up. Straus has preferred to pick particular reporters to talk with privately, off the record or on background only.

As the House comes to a near standstill as Democrats attempt to slow the arrival of Voter ID to the floor, the quiet yet amiable Speaker hasn't said anything to press. So we caught him for a quick floor conversation a few moments ago. He's JS, we're "us", as in reporters:

JS: We're doing items eligible right now, moving along as it always would, so far this morning.

Us: How's this day going to go?

JS: It'll be okay. There's 24 hours in it.

Us: Could we be headed a special? There seems to be a lot of drama going on.

JS: Members will have to figure it out, we're working on it. There's a lot of conversations, conversations come first, then the agreement. I'm sure we'll get through it.

Us: Are you confident that you're exerting the type of leadership that's needed during this time?

JS: I think the members need to figure it out, I'm confident I"m helping put people together to talk. But we're in a now, 74-75 house and it's just one of the spots you get in in a very closely divided place but we'll get through it. I think we've done very well this session.

Us: Do you support taking bills out of order to get some major bills passed?

JS: There's over 60 or 65 signatures that don't support that, so that's a non issue. And no I don't support that.

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