Democratic state Sen. Royce West told NBC 5 Anchor Brittney Johnson that Democrats will now have the power to act on changes they have long sought. West, who has represented a Dallas-area district for more than three decades, said most of that time was spent with his party out of power. He said that he had little input into committee agendas during those years.
West called health care a main objective for the next legislative session and said Texas has a high rate of uninsured residents, particularly children. He also said he would file a bill to eliminate vouchers, that the state should raise the minimum wage, and that public schools must remain a priority. He said he hopes lawmakers will return to the two-thirds rule, which required Democrats and Republicans to work together.
West also said the state's leadership includes women in several top roles. He said the governor and lieutenant governor are women and that he hopes the next House speaker will be a woman. He said voters expect officeholders to deliver on the issues that matter most to them.