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.
Greg Abbott
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.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
Health care
Banned Parenthood?
State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, wants Planned Parenthood’s clinics out of the state’s Women’s Health Program, which provides family planning services — but not abortions — to impoverished Medicaid patients. He says a 2005 law should exclude them already. But for years, the state’s Health and Human Services Commission has allowed those clinics to participate, for fear that barring them might be unconstitutional. Deuell has asked Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to clear up the matter, hoping it will free up the agency to push Planned Parenthood out.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: July 12, 2010
An end to the Gulf oil spill may be in sight. (No, really.)
