Legislature's first week full of ceremony, but little else

A lone legislative panel meets Thursday to discuss education policy as the Legislature's short first week wraps up.

The House Education Reform Committee has the sole hearing scheduled, mainly to kick off its work for the session that started Tuesday.

It has been a week devoted to ceremony such as swearing in lawmakers and procedure like introductory committee meetings and bringing a large number of new legislators up to speed.

Republicans who took over the Legislature this week have promised not to hold meetings on Fridays.

More action is expected next week as the first bills are introduced and the committee machinery begins to crank into gear.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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