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Jones sends a list of promises to House Republicans if elected as next Speaker

ST. LOUIS — House Speaker candidate Caleb Jones, R-California, sent a letter to the majority caucus Friday in which he pledged seven different commitments to House Republicans.

Among the areas he committed himself to include not seeking higher office in 2016, abolishing the House Rules Committee and give all remaining campaign funds to the House Republican Campaign Committee after the one term he would want to serve if elected.

The caucus is set to vote to elect the next general assembly’s speaker — Jones is running against Majority Floor Leader John Diehl — next week during veto session.

See the full letter sent the caucus below:

Dear friends and colleagues,

Through my travels during the past two and a half months, I have had the pleasure of meeting with many of you and discussing your thoughts of where our caucus is heading and how it should work in 2015.

I know that sometimes people will say one thing to get elected and then forget their promises once in office. I want you to hold me accountable. Therefore, today, I am laying before you my Contract with the Caucus.

I pledge to you:

• I will not run for higher office in 2016 – I have no intentions of using the Speaker’s office as a stepping-stone.

• I will commit to serving as Speaker for only one term.  Afterwards, I will give any remaining campaign funds to the HRCC.

• I will ask the Caucus to abolish the Rules Committee.

• I will hold daily office hours for caucus members only. No staff, no lobbyists, just House members.

• I will ask the Caucus to eliminate Committee slots. Good policy is good politics.

• I will make Chairman accountable to the Caucus. We will hold real Caucus meetings and iron out the problems before a bill advances to the floor.

• I give the Caucus the ability to determine legislation. You will determine our priorities.

This is my pledge to you.  I believe we can function better as a Caucus with bottom up leadership than with a top down mentality.

I look forward seeing you all at the Veto Session in the days to come.

All my best,
Caleb Jones

Paid for by Friends of Caleb Jones, Daniel Beckett Treasurer