The new Texas governor took the podium before a joint session of the Legislature and promised to bolster pre-kindergarten and higher education research, ease traffic woes and strengthen governmental ethics controls.
It was January 2001, and Gov. Rick Perry was giving his first State of the State address.
Fourteen years later, new Gov. Greg Abbott took the podium and made many of the same promises.
The speeches were far from identical, but how's this for oratory deja vu? Perry: "I have proposed boosting funding for research and faculty recruitment. We must send a signal to the brightest minds of academia that we want them to invest their talents and ideas in Texas schools."
Abbott Tuesday said he wants "to enhance research programs and attract nationally recognized researchers and Nobel laureates to Texas universities."
The State of the State echo signifies how stuck-in-the-middle some issues are in Texas politics. Here's a look at other people and topics that had a strong week — and those that didn't.
WHO'S UP
Gay Rights Advocates
The Lone Star State has a lone legally married gay couple, its first since a 2005 same-sex marriage ban. And Suzanne Bryant and Sarah Goodfriend could remain in a unique position for the foreseeable future. After a Travis County probate judge ruled the gay marriage ban unconstitutional as part of an estate case, another judge issued a marriage license on medical grounds, citing Goodfriend's ovarian cancer. The couple married, but then Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed to the state Supreme Court, which blocked other gay couples from following suit.
___
Tesla
Twin bills filed in the Senate and House by lawmakers from both parties would allow Tesla to sell its electric cars directly to Texans in as many as 12 showrooms statewide. The company peddles its products straight to buyers, but that business model runs afoul of Texas' franchising and distribution rules. Similar legislation filed in years past has stalled, but Tesla says it's revving up its lobbying efforts this time.
___
WHO'S DOWN
STAAR Supporters
Since its unveiling in 2012, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam has been a favorite whipping boy of education advocates from across the political spectrum. Last session, lawmakers cut from 15 to five the number of standardized tests high school students must pass to graduate — and early indications this time are the Legislature may not yet be finished. The House Public Education Committee spent much of its first meeting complaining about STAAR, while its counterpart Senate committee discussed a bill providing an alternative pathway to graduation for youngsters who fail state-mandated exams.
___
WHO'S IN-BETWEEN
Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek
Once a state senator himself, Janek was grilled by upper chamber budget writers for more than an hour this week. At issue is a multi-million dollar no bid contract his agency extended to an Austin tech company, which has prompted calls for Janek's resignation. But he says he loves his job and wants to stay — and so far he's not been fired, so things could be much worse.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.