Texas lawmakers have a lot of campaign promises to live up to

A new governor and lieutenant governor will bring big changes to the Legislature next year.

Several local lawmakers agreed Thursday that Texas Gov.-elect Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick are expected to come in to office with definite plans they want legislators to follow.

“There have been a lot of campaign promises made,” state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, told a crowd of more than 200 gathered at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s Leaders in Government Series at the Cendera Center.

“I think we will see a lot more direction on things they have to deliver on. Otherwise they weren’t telling the truth.”

Stickland, along with state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, and state Reps. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, and Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, spoke at the luncheon.

Hancock said the 84th Legislature will, without a doubt, begin differently since Abbott and Patrick won’t be sworn in until Jan. 20, one week after the Legislature gets to work.

“The dynamics are definitely going to be different,” Hancock said.

And more conservative, Zedler said.

“The philosophy hasn’t seemed to change, but we have gotten some more conservative House and Senate members,” he said. “I don’t think there will be any dramatic change.”

Collier said the new leadership won’t affect her.

“The dynamics are changing in the Legislature and there will be a period when we have to get to know our new leaders,” she said. “But it’s not going to change how I approach the Legislature and what I do to represent my district.”

Goldman said he believes the beginning of the Legislature will be much like going back to school.

“There will be new energy, new excitement,” he said.

And new direction.

“We saw Gov. Perry on opening day last session [and we] didn’t see him again until May,” Goldman said. “I think Gov.-elect Abbott will lay out [more of] an agenda.”

Krause agreed that much will be different, but that’s also because many returning lawmakers are no longer freshman and have a greater understanding of the way the Legislature works.

“We know the process better and can be more strategic,” he said.

Next year’s legislative freshmen from Tarrant County — state Sen.-elect Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, and state Reps. Ramon Romero, D-Fort Worth, and Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington — did not attend the luncheon because they were at new member orientation in Austin.

State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, was in Austin helping with the orientation.

This story was originally published December 5, 2014 at 8:25 AM with the headline "Texas lawmakers have a lot of campaign promises to live up to."