AUSTIN — House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is not questioning Alamo City leaders’ decision to drop out of the contest for Amazon’s second headquarters, even as he launches a new committee aimed at keeping Texas economically competitive.

“It’s such a mad scramble that there’s only going to be one winner,” Straus said. “So, if San Antonio is focused on other opportunities where there’s a much better chance of winning, I think that’s a smart decision.”

Straus on Thursday announced the new Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness in light of Amazon’s hunt for a new location and recent furor among the business community over the so-called bathroom bill.

“We can’t just assume that jobs are destined to come to Texas if we continue to spend so much time talking about bathroom bills or whatever wedge issue gets manufactured next,” he said at an Austin Chamber of Commerce meeting.

“We will surrender our well-earned reputation as a pro-business, pro-growth state. Just ask North Carolina,” he added, making reference to major economic losses that state experienced after passing a similar bill legislating the bathrooms that transgender people can use.

Leading the new committee will be Rep. Bryon Cook, R-Corsicana, who played a role in defeating the bathroom bill during the special session this year when he refused to schedule a hearing on the legislation in the House State Affairs Committee, which he chairs.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who championed the bill requiring people to use the public bathroom matching the gender on their birth certificate, did not immediately respond to comment. Business leaders and advocates lobbied against the bill, which many considered discriminatory.

Straus, who often aligns with business interests, has been making a statewide tour of chambers of commerce since the end of session, urging members to stay engaged at the Legislature.

Straus said the new committee isn’t coming around “to lure Amazon, though that would be nice. It’s to take stock of where we are and where we stand.”

San Antonio may be out of the Amazon competition, but Dallas and Austin are among the Texas cities still vying for the company’s proposed $5 billion second headquarters. Texas’ Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz recently wrote the Seattle-based company, urging a move to the Lone Star State.

Cook, in a recent letter to the Dallas Morning News, warned that the bathroom bill could hurt Texas’ chances because Amazon seeks to “avoid states with discrimination policies.”

The Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness will solicit feedback from businesses about what motivated their decisions to move. And it will look at issues ranging from workforce development and infrastructure to local economic development tools before reporting back findings in mid-December.

Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, will be vice chair of the committee. Other members include Reps. Angie Chen Button, R-Richardson; Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; Joe Moody, D-El Paso and René Oliveira, D-Brownsville.

amorris@express-news.net