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Perry & Dewhurst To Discuss Welfare Reform

AUSTIN (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are teaming up for a rare joint press conference to discuss reforms for welfare and unemployment insurance.

The pair will be at an Austin glass company Tuesday. Their appearance comes following a bill announced Monday by Republican state Sen. Jane Nelson of Flower Mound.

Nelson's proposal was offered on the first day to pre-file legislation for the upcoming 2013 legislative session and aims to reform welfare to "more closely align with the program's original mission."

It would strengthen job training requirements, institute drug testing for high-risk applicants, and tighten policies preventing using welfare funds to buy alcohol and tobacco.

Dewhurst spokesman Matt Hirsch said Perry and Dewhurst will "talk about the bill and where they want to go with it this session."

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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