Tag Archives: Greg Abbott

The Austin Statesman reports: A unanimous Texas Supreme Court concluded Friday that there is no inherent right to government-provided spousal benefits in same-sex marriages. The 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that established the right to same-sex marriage did not decide all marriage-related matters, leaving room for state courts to explore the decision’s “reach and ramifications,” the Texas court said. Supporters …

The Texas Tribune reports: The “bathroom bill” that preoccupied the Texas Legislature for the first half of the year is important to only 44 percent of the state’s voters — and “very important” to only 26 percent, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. During the regular session, lawmakers considered but did not pass legislation that would regulate …

Reuters reports: The Texas governor signed a law on Thursday to protect the religious rights of faith-based groups in state child welfare programs, but critics said it could be used to discriminate against LGBT and non-Christian families in adoptions. Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3859 which allows faith-based groups working with the Texas child welfare system to deny …

The Texas Tribune reports: Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday called a special session of the Texas Legislature starting July 18. Abbott asked lawmakers to first pass key legislation that would keep some state agencies from shuttering. That “will be the only legislation on the special session [call] until they pass out of the Senate in full,” Abbott said. Abbott laid …

Yesterday the Texas House devolved into literal shoving matches and death threats on the final day of the legislative session. The Texas Tribune reports on what might come next: While both chambers successfully passed a two-year $217 blllion budget — the only item the Legislature is required to pass — other controversial items, such as a “bathroom bill” to regulate …

The Dallas Morning News reports: The CEOs of 14 top companies, including Facebook, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon, have sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott urging him not to pass discriminatory legislation. “As large employers in the state, we are gravely concerned that any such legislation would deeply tarnish Texas’ reputation as open and friendly to businesses and families,” the …

The Texas Tribune reports: Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed a bill into law significantly reducing the cost to get a license to carry a handgun, making Texas one of the states with the lowest fee in the nation. “The right to bear arms is something that is synonymous with the state of Texas. We are proud to expand the …

The Texas Tribune reports: A proposal to gut cities and school districts’ trans-inclusive bathroom policies did not advance in the House ahead of a crucial deadline, nixing the measure’s chances of getting a vote by the full chamber. But that doesn’t mean that the issue itself is dead. Up against bill-killing deadlines, the House State Affairs Committee on Monday did …

The Texas Tribune reports: The Texas Senate on Wednesday voted 20-11 to accept the House’s version of Senate bill 4, legislation that would ban “sanctuary” jurisdictions in Texas and allow police to inquire about the immigration status of people they lawfully detain. The bill now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who declared the legislation an “emergency item” in the early …

The Austin Statesman reports: The Texas voter ID law was enacted in 2011 with the intent to discriminate against minority voters, a federal judge ruled Monday. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos followed a July decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said the law had a disproportionate impact on minority voters because they …

The Austin Statesman reports: Hundreds of people have signed up to protest outside the Texas governor’s mansion on Thursday against bills that they say threaten the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Their resistance of choice? Dancing. The mansion is “a Greek revival building and is the oldest continuously occupied home in Austin,” said Jeremy von Stilb, an …

Sports Illustrated reports: Texas governor Greg Abbott mocked the NFL’s “decision makers” on Twitter after the league issued veiled criticism of a proposed “bathroom bill” in the state. Abbott’s tweet came after a league spokesman told the AP that prejudicial legislation could be a factor when the NFL chooses where to host events like the Super Bowl. “If a proposal …

The Austin Statesman reports: Ratcheting up pressure on the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court, Gov. Greg Abbott and other leading GOP officials Friday urged the court to revive a lawsuit that seeks to abolish employee benefits the city of Houston provides to married same-sex couples. The case has become a rallying point for the state’s social conservatives, with the stakes growing …

Via press release from the Democratic National Committee: Earlier today, while speaking at the Texas GOP Convention, Governor Abbott made clear that he supports North Carolina’s discriminatory law, HB2. Abbott even hinted that a similar measure could be coming to the Lone Star State, saying “I am working with the governor of North Carolina, and we are going to fight …

The Houston Chronicle reports: A Harris County grand jury investigating allegations that a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston illegally sold the tissue of aborted fetuses has cleared the organization of wrongdoing and instead indicted two anti-abortion activists behind the undercover videos that sparked the probe. Secret videographers David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were both indicted on charges of tampering with …

From the Associated Press: Texas Gov Greg Abbott criticized President Barack Obama’s plan to move ahead with possible executive actions on guns in a tweet in which he told the Commander-in-Chief to ‘come & take’ the state’s guns. Obama said in his weekly radio address that he is looking for ways to keep guns out of the hands of ‘a …

This afternoon Hillary Clinton hit back at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who yesterday rallied his haters to vote against retaining Houston’s LGBT rights ordinance. Early voter turnout was heavy and the polls close at 7PM local time. I’ll be reporting the returns tonight until we get a final result.

GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this morning fired out the above tweet which parrots the douche-y meme being spread by anti-LGBT hate groups with an added attack on Hillary Clinton. Early voting in Houston’s repeal referendum has been heavy, particularly in districts considered to be right wing strongholds. It doesn’t look good at this point. The vote is tomorrow.

Via the Austin American-Statesman: As he was waiting with family and staff to board a flight back to Austin on Tuesday night after two days promoting Texas in New York City, Gov. Greg Abbott was approached by another passenger who shook his hand and then loudly and profanely expressed his unhappiness with the governor’s opposition to gay marriage. “I hope …

Via Talking Points Memo: Following the ruling, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a directive on Friday ordering state agencies to “prioritize compliance” with the First Amendment and Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The directive states that agencies should make sure that nobody “takes any adverse action against” people “substantially motivated by sincere religious belief.” “The law protects religious liberty …