Republicans target their own in Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Texas Republicans have reportedly targeted 14 of their own for defeat in the March primaries, it was reported Sunday.

The targeted state lawmakers have been dubbed Republicans in Name Only, or RHINOS, for backing a Democratic school finance proposal, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The move appears to be following a nationwide trend among the GOP to weed out less conservative lawmakers, the newspaper said.

One University of Texas-Austin professor speculated the self-cleansing could be an attempt to unify Republicans, who have have a stronghold in the Lone Star state.

"The longer a party holds power, it's harder to make sure everyone marches to the same tune," government professor Bruce Buchanan told the newspaper.

The 14 RHINOS, also called "the Hochberg 14," supported Democratic state Rep. Scott Hochberg's amendment to the GOP's school-finance plan.