The Associated Press

Tue, Jan 13, 2009 (2:18 p.m.)

The new speaker of the Texas House of Representatives says everyone's voice "can and should be heard" in the chamber marked by recent infighting and iron-fisted leadership.

San Antonio Republican Joe Straus was elected Tuesday as the legislative session started. Straus, the first Jewish speaker since Texas became a state, replaces three-term Speaker Tom Craddick.

Straus won bipartisan support with promises to heal wounds from claims that Craddick had strong-armed lawmakers and two attempts to overthrow him failed. In his acceptance speech, Straus called the House a "place where we respect each other's points of view."

Democrats increased their seats in the last election, but Republicans kept control by a narrow 76-74 majority.