Texas Legislature Opens 2013 Session
AUSTIN (AP) - The 83rd Texas Legislature has convened for its 140-day regular session where it will tackle the state budget, students testing, water issues, health care and hundreds of proposed new laws.
Texas lawmakers meet once every two years, when they must pass a two-year budget and any other legislation the state may need. The budget is always the biggest issue, and this year lawmakers have $101 billion to spend, though Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst have pledged to keep the budget under $89.29 billion.
A top priority will be filling a $5.2 billion deficit in the current budget, created by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2011 when they failed to fully fund Medicaid, the health care program for the poor, disabled and elderly.
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