Gov. Rick Perry addressed a joint session of the House and Senate for the last time on Jan. 13, opening day of the 140-day regular session of the 84th Texas Legislature.
Before recounting various aspects of the state’s performance during his record-breaking tenure as chief executive, Perry said, “I have come here to reflect on what we have done together, and to say farewell. But most of all, to tell you it has been the highest of honors to serve as your governor for the last 14 years.”
Perry painted a picture of Texas “as a land of unlimited opportunity” with mentions of such items as job growth, the booming oil and gas industry, various other economic drivers, fiscal management, education and public safety. “While some still struggle in the shadows of opportunity, we have created tremendous possibilities for millions of Texans. While the rest of the nation has lost middle class jobs, Texas has created them,” Perry said. He also reminded the audience of challenges recently faced, such as “the disintegration of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike, devastating wildfires, the spread of Ebola and a humanitarian crisis at the border.”
