HOUSTON — Tonight, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced his highest priorities for the 2023 legislative session in his annual State of the State address. Among his emergency items, he named billions of dollars for anti-immigrant measures, additional mandatory minimum sentences, and policies that would threaten locally elected district attorneys and judges.
In response to Abbott’s remarks, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas issued the following statement from Executive Director Oni Blair:
“The governor has chosen to ignore the real issues Texans face. His legislative agenda is designed to distract and divide Texans by targeting groups like public school students, educators and immigrants.
“We have an unprecedented surplus of taxpayer money that could be used to benefit all Texans for generations to come. Now is the time to adequately prepare our energy grid for extreme weather, ensure every student receives a high quality education that acknowledges diverse history and identities in a safe and supportive environment, and expand healthcare access to decrease maternal mortality, especially for Black mothers. While the governor continues to push failed policies and political stunts, we the people of Texas will keep working toward a better future.”
