Several events take place in Austin today as part of the inauguration of Texas’ new governor and lieutenant governor, from a swearing-in ceremony to a black-tie ball.
The day kicks off on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol at 11 a.m. Gov.-elect Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick will take the oath of office, and so the 48th governor and 42nd lieutenant governor of Texas will be sworn in.
Yesterday outgoing Gov. Rick Perry handed over the Bible he used for his swearing-in to Abbott. Perry used it four times. It’s believed the Bible belonged to Sam Houston, the Republic of Texas’ first president, although the Associated Press reports some archivists are raising doubts about whether it really is Houston’s Bible or that of the state Supreme Court's first chief justice.
After the ceremony, more than 30 floats representing different parts of the state travel down Congress Avenue, and tonight an inaugural ball wraps it all up, setting the stage for the Texas Legislature to start picking up steam.
