Published: July 01, 2009 11:08 am      

Texas commences special session

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas lawmakers have convened the special legislative session in Austin.

The Texas House gaveled in just after 10 a.m. Wednesday to kick things off. The plan for this session — which Gov. Rick Perry called after the regular session ended June 1 — is to wrap things up quickly, the governor says.

Perry called called to extend the shelf life of some critical state agencies and allow the Department of Transportation to issue $2 billion in bonds for building roads. Perry says the unfinished business from the regular session can be done in time for the holiday weekend.