AUSTIN—Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick emphasized their priorities for the 88th Legislative Session as they were sworn into office Tuesday to serve Texans for another four years.
During his inaugural speech, Abbott discussed property taxes, education, and border security.
First, Abbott promised to use the budget surplus to pass the “largest property tax cut in Texas history.”
He also called for improvements to infrastructure, specifically the state’s electricity grid, to maintain Texas’ status as “America’s undisputed economic leader.”
Next, he addressed the state’s public schools.
“Our schools are for education, not indoctrination,” said Abbott. “Schools should not push social agendas.”
Abbott also reiterated his support for school choice, where state education funding follows the student, regardless of the manner in which he or she is educated.
Parents deserve the freedom to choose the education that’s best for their child.
Public safety was another key focus of Abbott’s speech.
“We must end the easy bail policies that let dangerous criminals back on our streets,” said Abbott. “We must impose mandatory sentences on criminals caught with guns and on anyone caught smuggling illegal immigrants.”
Abbott then criticized the Biden administration for refusing to enforce the country’s immigration laws, and he championed Texas’ actions to address the border fiasco by building a wall and deploying law enforcement and military to the border.
“Texas is using every tool to protect our state,” said Abbott, promising a crackdown on the lethal fentanyl crisis brought on by the Biden administration’s open border policies.
“There are parents with us here today who lost a child to fentanyl,” said Abbott. “They know we cannot bring back their child, but their hearts cling to the hope that their loss will not be in vain. They deserve action that will save other innocent families from the devastation they suffered.”
Lt. Gov. Patrick echoed Abbott’s call for further property tax relief, strengthening the electric grid, providing school choice, and increasing border security. He has also signaled his support for banning critical race theory in higher education and raising teacher salaries.
Within the next few weeks, Gov. Greg Abbott will give the constitutionally mandated State of the State address, in which he is expected to name several emergency issues for the Legislature to tackle during the first 60 days of the session.
