Greg Abbott faces an early test of both leadership and character. While Governor Abbott has softened his rhetoric lately, it’s fair for Texans to doubt that he’s sincerely moving past the harsh tone and divisive approach he’s brought to public office.
Creating jobs, keeping our economy strong and being the Governor for ALL Texans means Abbott must make hard choices that will likely strain his relationship with Dan Patrick and with other new Tea Party GOP legislators, not to mention some of his well-connected donors and political allies.
By making and keeping the three pledges below, Greg Abbott can signal legitimate goodwill and good intentions. These are relatively modest, fair-minded actions designed to address and solve real problems.
Creating jobs, keeping our economy strong and being the Governor for ALL Texans means Abbott must make hard choices that will likely strain his relationship with Dan Patrick and with other new Tea Party GOP legislators, not to mention some of his well-connected donors and political allies.
By making and keeping the three pledges below, Greg Abbott can signal legitimate goodwill and good intentions. These are relatively modest, fair-minded actions designed to address and solve real problems.
- Really make Texas education number one
Two sessions ago more than $5 billion was removed from already under-funded Texas schools. As a result, over 600 Texas public school districts were forced to sue the state of Texas to require compliance with the education provisions in our Constitution. A State court ruled for the school districts. However, rather than complying with the court’s ruling, the decision was appealed, forcing Texas school kids to stay tied up in court without the basic funding needed to learn. Governor Abbott should immediately direct Attorney General Paxton to withdraw the State’s appeal and then include public education reform as an emergency item before the Legislature so that sufficient funding to neighborhood schools can be restored quickly.
- End “Charge Now, Explain Later” home insurance practices
Insurance companies doing business in Texas are currently allowed to increase home insurance rates and demand payment BEFORE the higher rate has been justified or approved by the Texas Insurance Commission. Governor Abbott should immediately call on the Legislature to stop this ongoing practice by home insurance companies and require that homeowner insurance rate increases go into effect only AFTER approval from the Texas Insurance Commission.
- Stop spending Taxpayer funds defending racial discrimination.
Since 2011, federal courts have ruled three times that Texas leaders have intentionally discriminated against African American and Hispanic Texans. Millions of dollars have been spent, and taxpayer funds are still being expended defending and justifying actions ruled to be intentionally discriminatory. Governor Abbott should call upon Attorney General Paxton to take appropriate actions to end the ongoing redistricting and voter ID lawsuits and enter into appropriate settlement agreements signaling that he is ending his hostile, confrontational relationship with Texas African American and Hispanic citizens.
