By Larry Briscoe
Correspondent
Texas State Rep. Dan Flynn previewed issues for the 84th Texas Legislature Monday at a town hall meeting here.
“I didn’t come here with a big agenda. I came to listen to you,” Flynn told the assembly of about 25 people at Boles Home. Flynn had had engagements earlier in the day at the Sulphur Springs hospital and Paris Junior College.
“The new session will be a little different deal than the last couple of sessions,” he said and explained the session would seat between eight and 10 brand new senators.
He said he did not recall that kind of change although it was commonplace to have 50 new House members at each new session.
“It can have a very different effect,” he said and noted the state would also have a new governor.
Flynn said 2003 was the first time control of the House changed in 130 years.
“The decisions made in the 2003 session hurt everybody,” he quipped. “The changes set in motion a great pattern that did us well.”
The representative said the state faced some real challenges. He emphasized the way to deal with financial issues was “being responsible in what you spend the same way as in a family.”
Flynn said the first issue facing g the legislature was border control, immigration. He noted that both he and his chief of staff, David Erinakes, serve in the Texas State Guard. He said he had visited the border so many times, he could not remember how many.
“The border is a criminal area,” he warned. “Seventy percent of those crossing are other than Mexican.” He said they came from the Middle East and other countries.
“They are not coming looking for jobs,” he said. “They are coming to kill us. That’s a serious problem.”
He said youths were used to bring drugs across the border, and then they were abused and killed.
Health care is the second issue Flynn addressed and called it the Big Gorilla.
“The currents system is not geared for you,” he said. “In fact, it’s against you. I call it the Unaffordable Health Care Plan.”
He said he did not know what could be done other than to talk to Senators and House members “and bug them” to get something done.
Flynn said there was plenty of money for the state’s problems. “It depends on how to spend it.” He said the government “could not be a nanny government and do everything for everyone.”
The next issue the representative discussed was public education.
“We have judges running our school system,” Flynn said. “Right now, a lot depends on how a judge reacts to what we have to say.”
The Texas school finance system was declared unconstitutional in 2013 in response to a lawsuit against the state. The state appealed the ruling. The Texas Supreme Court is yet to hear the appeal.
Other legislation discussed by the legislator included a bill he filed to address Sharia law.
“My thought is that this is America and we should follow American law,” he said.
Flynn discussed the 10th Amendment dealing with state’s rights, abortion legislation and requirements for voter identification.
Flynn said Texas was the envy of the nation. He described himself as one of the conservative member of the Texas House.
The new legislature is scheduled to convene Jan. 13. The regular session will end June 1.