Incoming Texas Lawmakers Prepare for 83rd Legislative Session
By: Ann Arnold
Updated: January 7, 2013
It's move in day at the state capitol as incoming lawmakers prepare for the 83rd legislative session.
James Frank of Wichita Falls joins 38 other incoming freshman this year. He spent this morning and afternoon in meetings and setting up his new office at the state capitol.
Frank, who will fill the seat now vacated by Lanham Lyne, says he's excited to get started and ready to get down to business. He says a major priority for him is limiting the scope of state government over local municipalities.
"Any bill that removes local control is a bad bill. I think a lot of times people here in Austin think they know what's best for Wichita Falls, Knox City, Archer City. They think they know what's best. I think they don't," Frank said.
He says he will vote down any bill that limits local control over local government, school districts, or mental health services.
Meanwhile, Drew Springer of Muenster got moved in today as well. He will represent the 68th District seat, vacated this past session by longtime Representative Rick Hardcastle.
Springer also says the biggest issues facing this session will be reducing goverment regulation, something he says is killing rural Texas.
"We've got to find a way to reduce government regulation and it's not just on small business. It's for agriculture, it's for education. We've way overreached on unfunded mandates. And we've got to look at it from the same perspective on healthcare," said Springer.
Tomorrow these empty seats will be filled with people as new lawmakers are sworn in. Shortly after that a speaker of the house will be selected. We'll bring you all the highlights tomorrow.
