Iowa: Romney, Bush lead in early poll. It’s 21% for 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, 14% for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and 10% for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, says a Gravis poll of Iowa Republicans. Six others were in single digits. Bush’s fellow Floridian Marco Rubio came in last, with only 4% ……. Texas: State House Speaker Joe Straus (R) was reelected Tuesday by a vote of 128 to 19, defeating state Rep. Scott Turner (R), who was backed by the Tea Party and allied groups. After the vote, Straus highlighted two legislative goals, relieving traffic problems and “sensible but meaningful tax relief,” reported the Texas Tribune. Turner, who spent the last year campaigning for the post, said that “the shackles of the status quo have got to be destroyed.” ……. Louisiana: Scalise opposed slavery apology. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R) voted against a resolution in the state legislature in 1996 that would have apologized for slavery, reports The Hill. “I am not going to apologize for what somebody else did,” Scalise said in the Times-Picayune at the time of the debate. However, he did vote for a later version that expressed “regret” for slavery …….
