* This story has been updated with additional comment from Patrick.
Texas’ top three elected leaders are looking to show a united front as the 2019 legislative session begins — and start fresh after the drama of last session.
The so-called “Big Three” — Republicans Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and newly elected House Speaker Dennis Bonnen — punctuated the effort Wednesday morning with a joint news conference outside the Governor’s Mansion, where they swore to be in lockstep on an ambitious list of priorities for the session, including reforming school finance and property taxes.
“We are here today to send a very strong, profound and unequivocal message — that the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker are working in collaboration together on a very bold agenda that will be transformative for the state of Texas,” Abbott said.