Republican Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling will speak next week at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. to lay out his political and economic priorities, raising his visibility within the conservative movement as he potentially mounts a campaign to run for speaker of the House after the 2014 midterm elections.
Hensarling will speak at a presentation called “A Time for Choosing: The Main Street Economy vs. The Washington Crony Economy,” hosted by Heritage Action for America President Michael Needham, at 3:30 p.m. in Heritage’s Lehrman Auditorium.
“Chairman Hensarling will issue a call to action for conservatives to create an enduring conservative governing majority that embraces true free enterprise rather than ‘pro-business’ Washington special interests,” according to a Heritage Foundation press release.
Hensarling’s featured speech at the conservative think tank will further bolster his rising visibility in the Republican caucus. The House Finance Committee chairman is identified as the leading conservative challenger to Boehner after the midterms. (RELATED: Cantor sabotages Hensarling in quest for speakership)
Hensarling recently refused, in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, to rule out a run for speaker, even though Boehner told a Texas publication that he plans to run for re-election to his post after November.
“If you’re asking me to be Shermanesque, you know I’m not sure they would ever invite me to play drums with Led Zeppelin, but you know, I’m not going to say no just in case the invitation comes,” Hensarling said. “I’m going to wait until after November to decide.”