AUSTIN, Texas _ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick were sworn in for second terms on a cold, gray Tuesday, continuing an era of Republican hegemony in the nation's largest red state with a promise of bipartisan accomplishment on long "intractable" issues beginning with education.
"We gather today for more than just an inauguration," Abbott said after being sworn in by Nathan Hecht, chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. "Today is the dawn of a transformative session that will usher in a new era. A new era for children, teachers and taxpayers.
"Despite the exceptional heights to which Texas has climbed, I believe we have only risen to the foothills of what we can become," Abbott said. "I know we can do even more for our fellow Texans."
"We can do more to educate the next generation and keep them safe at school. More to advance our universities to meet the changes sweeping the 21st century. More to rein in the property tax burden of our citizens. More to help our coastal region become resilient to catastrophic storms. More to crack down on human trafficking and the dangerous gangs promoting it, he said.
"It is time for Texas to deliver real education reform," Abbott said. "Today we must dedicate ourselves to making our schools better than they have ever been."
"This session, we must act to pay our best teachers more," Abbott said. "We must reward teachers and school districts that achieve results. We must prioritize spending in the classroom, shore up the Teacher Retirement System, and yes, the state will invest more in public education."
And, Abbott said: "I want to make this very clear. We will do this session what no thought achievable. We will finally fix school finance."
Abbott also addressed his other top priority for the session, priorities he shares with Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen.
"This session, we must finally rein in skyrocketing property taxes in Texas," Abbott said.
"Some people say we can't afford property tax reform," Abbott said. "I say we can't afford not to reform a system that punishes homeowners, crushes businesses and cripples our schools."
"To fix this, Texas must limit the ability of taxing authorities to raise your property taxes," the governor said. "At the same time, Texas must end unfunded mandates on cities and counties. And taxpayers should be given the power to fir their property tax appraiser."
"Some cynics say we can't solve these intractable problems," Abbott said. "They are too expensive, too complex. Too political. Too hard."
"The cynics forget the legendary Texas resolve," 'he said. "The resolve of heroes who fought for Texas liberty, while remembering the Alamo. That resolve has been passed from one generation of Texans to another."
"And yes," Abbott said, in reference to the 1984 accident that left him partially paralyzed, "we live in a state where a young man can have his back broken in half and still rise up and be governor of this great state."
Patrick was sworn into office by Justice Don Willett of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. He brought Chuck Norris to the podium with him.
Patrick said now that the election is over, "we work together for the people of Texas because that's what they expect us to do."
"This may surprise you because you may not have read it in the media," Patrick said, but in the last session, he said, the Texas Senate passed 1,600 bills, and only 23 of those bills passed with only Republican votes.
Of his adopted state, Patrick said, "We like life, we like liberty, we like freedom and we don't like anyone telling us what to do, especially the federal government."
In his first inaugural speech four years ago, Patrick famously said, "I stand here with a servant's heart, respectful of all faiths, but as a Christian first, a conservative second and a Republican third."
Recalling that speech, Patrick said he believed Texans "like to elect people who believe in God, not who think they are God."
Republicans have held the governorship since George W. Bush succeeded Ann Richards in 1995.
Republicans have held the lieutenant governorship since Rick Perry succeeded Bob Bullock in 1999.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Longview Boy Scout Troop 201 from Longview, Abbott's troop as a boy. The University of Texas band played the national anthem.
In a prayer service before the inaugural ceremony a few blocks from the Capitol at First Baptist Church on Trinity Street, Pastor Jimmy Seibert of Antioch First Baptist Church, addressed Abbott and Patrick seated in the front pew: "You men are easy to follow because you are not just saying words. You are living out your life's values."
At this point in American and Texas history, Seibert, "you are men for a time such as this."
Manson Johnson, pastor of Holman Street Baptist Church Houston, struck a similar note offering the closing prayer.
Johnson quoted the pastor and writer John C. Maxwell: "If you think you're leading, but no one is following, then you are only taking a walk."
"We support our leaders here in Texas," Johnson said. "We don't want you to just be taking a walk."
"I am so thankful we elected these two men," said Dr. Ed Young, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Patrick's home church in Houston, who delivered a sermon that focused on the story Nehemiah, the governor of Judea in the 5th Century BC, who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.
While waiting for the inauguration to begin, some folks in the crowd beyond the white-fenced perimeter for ticket holders, launched a brief chant of "Build the Wall."
Last week, Patrick suggested to President Donald Trump that Texas could build a wall on the Texas-Mexico border and the federal government could reimburse the state for the work.
