In less than one hundred days, the Texas legislators will begin a new session in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Texas Speaker of the House, Joe Straus, was invited by community leaders to speak at MSU where high education, water and the state budget were the main topics of discussion.

“I do travel a lot and I like to get out to local communities with the representatives from around the state,” Straus said.

This also gave the speaker an opportunity to meet with, who he referred to as representatives-elect, James Frank, candidate for state house representative for the 69th district and Drew Springer, who is running for state representative in the 68th district.

“It is good to be in the community and hear local concerns,” Straus said.

“I don’t believe public support of public universities is a subsidy,” he said. “I believe it is a responsibility.”

Even though he believes in finding as many venues as possible to fund public education, he said with the current economy makes that process more difficult for legislators.

“The money has to come from somewhere because education isn’t free,” he said.

After the bomb scares on the University of Texas and the debate on allowing guns on campus, Straus said the bill that allows guns on campus is currently off the table.

“The higher education community came out very strongly opposing that bill in the last session,” he said. “I don’t think it ever got as far along as it appeared to.”

Straus said it does not necessarily mean it would not reappear.

“It also doesn’t mean that there might be some ways to find a compromise,” he said.

The San Antonio native, who was elected speaker of the Texas house in 2009, attended the Republican National Convention earlier this month.

He said Gov. Mitt Romney needs to be very clear and forceful about his programs for the future of this country if he wants to be elected this November.

“I think he will do that and I have every confidence that he is a good communicator,” he said.

Last week, Romney raised eyebrows where at a private Florida fundraiser he was recorded saying that there are 47 percent of people who will vote for President Obama and it was not his job to worry about those people.

“I’ll never convince them,” Romney said in the video. “They should take personal responsibility and care of their lives.”

Straus said sometimes things are taken out of context or deliberately quoted in a way that does not make a particular candidate look very positive.

“The whole discussion about dependency on government is an important conversation for Romney to have,” Straus said. “People who believe as I do, as all of us do, that there should be a safety net for people that are having a hard time.”

He clarified that it should not be confused with permanent programs for people.

“I think he will be very clear that his program and his desire for the future for the country is a growing sector with jobs and opportunities for people to be able to be self-effect,” Straus said. “As he said himself, though he might not have made the argument in the most heartfelt way, but he will.”

Straus said the fact that the discussion of government dependence is on the table would play to Romney’s strengths.

“This election, which is a very consequential election for the future of our country,” he said. “This discussion will not only help him, but I think the American people are ready to confront the massive deficits and the strangling debt that this country is in.”

Straus said he is very confident Romney will be elected president.

“When [Romney] stands on his own in the debates in a couple of weeks and as he gives lengthier speeches, giving more details of his plan for the economy, the prospect of jobs and the future,” Straus said. “He will be very compelling.”

If a Romney administration happens in January, Straus said the private sector would feel more comfortable making investments in industries that will create jobs.

“A focus on the private sector where people know they can take risks in this country, risk capital and hire people without hear that the government is going to tax or regulate them to the point that there is no point in taking those risks,” Straus said.

It is those beliefs in the free enterprise system and the focus on the private sector that really divides the two candidates, Stratus said.

As a father of two college students, Straus said he understands the fear some students have about the job market post-grad.

“It is a difficult job environment,” he said. “I know there is apprehension and that’s why young people should be listening to this election, more closely than any election in their lifetime.”

According to Straus, people looking for a brighter future with opportunities in the private sector with good jobs and industries that require private sector investments will like what they see in Romney during the last few weeks in the campaign.

“Unlike in 2008, the republican candidate will attract more young voters,” he said.