For the 11th event in our TribLive series, I interviewed the attorney general of Texas on the politics and constitutionality of gay marriage, why he’s suing the feds over health care and why he filed a brief in support of the Arizona immigration law.
Greg Abbott
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Barbara Ann Radnofsky: The TT Interview
The Democratic nominee for attorney general on how long of a long-shot campaign she’s mounting, the incumbent’s predilection for “show lawsuits” and whether she’s willing to debate her opponent (we’ll give you one guess).
Posted in
Criminal Justice
2010: Abbott Won’t Commit to Debating Radnofsky
At this morning’s TribLive interview, Attorney General Greg Abbott wouldn’t say whether he’ll square off against his Democratic opponent, Barbara Ann Radnofsky. “That is going to be up to the people who run my campaign,” he said.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
The Other BP Catastrophe
BP’s problem-plagued Texas City refinery — where a 2005 explosion killed 15 and injured 170 — now faces two civil lawsuits stemming from its release this spring of more than 500,000 pounds of cancer-causing pollutants over 40 days. One suit seeks $10 billion on behalf of 2,000 exposed workers; the other, filed by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, seeks more than $1 million in fines. Both aim to punish the company for one of the largest chemical emissions events the state has ever seen.
Posted inState Government
Accounts Playable
The 2,694 political committees and campaigns that filed mid-year reports with the Texas Ethics Commission together held $167 million in their accounts, but only 274 of them had more than $100,000 on hand. Our interactive chart tells you who or what they are and how much they’ve banked.
Posted in
State Government
Taint by Association
The mud-throwing season is underway, with candidates on both sides working overtime to tie their opponents to controversial people, acts and money, hoping the negative mojo rubs off. Democrats are pushing anchor-baby videos of state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler. Republicans slam their Democratic foes for taking contributions from ethically suspect U.S. Reps. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif. “Both sides have folks who do what they do,” says a rueful Texas Republican who doesn’t want his name next to those of his party’s outspoken officeholders.
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Energy
TribBlog: Texas Takes On Offshore Drilling Ban
Texas is suing to stop the Obama administration’s second offshore drilling moratorium.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Abbott Declines to Opine on Gay Marriage
In a letter formally declining El Paso County’s request for an opinion on transgender marriages in Texas, Attorney Greg Abbott’s office said it would not opine on the issue because a case currently in court could clear up the question.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Abbott Takes On BP
The Texas attorney general accuses BP of “once again prioritizing profits over environmental compliance” at its Texas City refinery.
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: Dewhurst: “We Will File Suit”
Texas will sue the federal government, yet again, if Texas-specific requirements are not removed from budget legislation that passed the U.S. Senate today, according to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.