# Screw Greg Abbott {Texas Governor} **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 2, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141 "2021-03-02T21:00:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/141 "2021-08-10T18:16:45Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > It looks like Abbott has found a solution to deal with the surging cases in Texas. He’s asked for them, all right, but none are obliged to respond. Frankly, if I were them I’d tell him “no way in hell until you put a mask mandate, at the very least, and do not withdraw it.” Besides, given the way Delta is going, the traveling nurses, etc., may be sticking close to home because they’re already busy/contracted. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/142 "2021-08-10T18:18:36Z")
> [@bump](#): > > It’s mind-blowing that he’s putting small children at ANY risk, and risking even intense community spread… for political advantage vs. his right-wing primary rivals. And more so that a significant percentage of the state agrees with him. If hundreds or even thousands of children have to die in order for him to maintain power… so be it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/143 "2021-08-10T18:20:30Z")
No problem. Texas will get extra healthcare workers from Arkansas, Arkansas will get them from Missouri Missouri will get them from Florida Florida will get them from Texas. Problem solved! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/144 "2021-08-10T18:25:19Z")
That’s what worries me, and what has me both infuriated and perplexed. I mean, I can sort of follow (but not agree with) the logic that says for adults and older children, it’s a personal choice question- if you choose not to get vaccinated or do anything like masking or social distancing, then it’s your problem and choice when you get sick. (never mind that COVID doesn’t work like that- the masks and distancing are as much about YOU not spreading to others as it is about preventing your own infection). But what I can’t wrap my head around is that he didn’t make a specific exception for the under-12 set who can’t get vaccinated, and the Legislature didn’t fund realistic virtual options. It’s basically saying “Yes, your children stand a very high chance of catching COVID in school, and no, I’m not going to allow anything that could mitigate that.” What pisses me off more than anything I htink is that the executive order does carve out specific exceptions for prisons, jails, state schools (where the profoundly handicapped are educated), and the like. It’s like the state is ok with masking when they’re on the hook for it, but in other cases, where they’re not paying, it’s our problem. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/145 "2021-08-10T18:28:56Z")
> [@bump](#): > > “Yes, your children stand a very high chance of catching COVID in school, and no, I’m not going to allow anything that could mitigate that.” I"m not sure if I have my facts right, but did he also forbid any form of contact tracing in schools, so that Covid can run rampant with no way for the health authorities to know what the hell is going on? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/146 "2021-08-10T19:23:12Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > If hundreds or even thousands of children have to die in order for him to maintain power… so be it. One dead kid is a tragedy, a thousand is a statistic. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/147 "2021-08-10T19:38:27Z")
I think (but could be wrong), it’s merely not required. Probably unfunded as well. Some local districts have said that they’re going to continue, while others have said they’re not going to bother. What’s more insane is that they’re also not required to notify you if some other kid in your child’s class tests positive. That is another super-perplexing one. We’ve got the loons and the cretins on one particular side claiming that the Federal government wants to do all sorts of invasive and harmful things like put chips in us, or kill us with vaccines, and then right in plain sight, _their_ side is literally going out of their way to make it easier for the disease to spread, infect, and kill more people. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/148 "2021-08-10T19:56:48Z")
Texas Education Agency requirements on school districts for COVID are [posted here](https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/covid/SY-20-21-Public-Health-Guidance.pdf). Among the highlights: - In the case of a confirmed case, the school must notify health authorities, but there is no requirement regarding informing teachers or parents. - Schools cannot require teachers or students to wear masks. - School are not required to conduct COVID-19 contact tracing. If the school is made aware that a student is a close contact, the school _should_ notify the student’s parents. - Parents of students who are determined to be close contacts of an individual with COVID-19 _may opt_ to keep their students at home during the recommended stay-at-home period. FREEDOM!!! ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/149 "2021-08-10T19:57:08Z")
“Texas is not part of the national ~~electric~~ healthcare grid, so it cannot be supplied from other states.” ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/150 "2021-08-10T22:18:37Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I think it’s telling that Abbott has gone radio silent on these ISDs essentially blowing off his executive order. With ICUs reaching or at capacity in Texas and the surge in hospitalizations growing, the politics of this could be changing for him. He put out a statement requesting (but not requiring) hospitals to put off nonessential procedures. If I had to break my patella, I’m glad it happened last month. (Well, _I_ didn’t break it, Camden St. did, with a great assist by an uninsured driver.) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/151 "2021-08-11T15:14:57Z")
In a bit of entertaining and welcome news, the County Judges of Dallas County (Dallas) and Bexar County (San Antonio) have filed for restraining orders against the executive order under the idea that the Governor’s emergency powers are only legally extended to actions that are necessary to mitigate the emergency, and that restricting things like this are outside of that power, as they do nothing to mitigate it. Both counties’ district court judges have granted those orders, so we may be seeing mandates in those counties as early as today. [Dallas County Judge to Issue Emergency Order Challenging Abbott’s Ban on Mask Mandates – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (nbcdfw.com)](https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/dallas-county-judge-to-issue-emergency-order-challenging-abbotts-ban-on-mask-mandates/2715756/) > **[In win for San Antonio and Bexar County, judge temporarily overrides Texas...](https://news.yahoo.com/win-san-antonio-bexar-county-002319414.html)** > > In win for San Antonio and Bexar County, judge temporarily overrides Texas governor's ban on mask mandates ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/152 "2021-08-11T15:21:09Z")
That’s a very clever bit of legal reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/153 "2021-08-11T15:31:16Z")
Apparently in GA-38, the Governor has said he’s suspending sections of the State Code, including the ones that give county judges the power to deal with these things locally, completely to prevent mask mandates, and Jenkins is calling him on his bullshit. Wholesale suspension of state law to prevent mask mandates is above and beyond what the Governor can/should be able to do. Here’s the relevant part of GA-38: > b. This paragraph number 4 shall supersede any face-covering > requirement imposed by any local governmental entity or official, > except as explicitly provided in subparagraph number 4.a. To the > extent necessary to ensure that local governmental entities or officials > do not impose any such face-covering requirements, I hereby suspend > the following: > i. Sections 418.1015(b) and 418.108 of the Texas Government > Code; > ii. Chapter 81, Subchapter E of the Texas Health and Safety > Code; > iii. Chapters 121, 122, and 341 of the Texas Health and Safety > Code; > iv. Chapter 54 of the Texas Local Government Code; and > v. Any other statute invoked by any local governmental entity or > official in support of a face-covering requirement. > Pursuant to the legislature’s command in Section 4 18.173 of the Texas > Government Code and the State’s emergency management plan, the > imposition of any such face-covering requirement by a local > governmental entity or official constitutes a “failure to comply with” > this executive order that is subject to a fine up to $1,000. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/154 "2021-08-11T17:19:35Z")
Why doesn’t the Governor simply write a law that says that Covid does not exist? At the same time, he can have some folks take his throne down to the sea and command the rising tide to stay away. Or perhaps he can write a law that says no vaccines are allowed in the state for any disease whatsoever, and shut down the hospitals, and ban any form of pharmaceutical drug? People can pray diseases away, and if they remain sick, it’s their own fault for their lack of faith. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/155 "2021-08-11T18:03:01Z")
[The shit Abbott has been able to get away with – with barely a peep out of the Legislature or state courts – is simply astounding.](https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/greg-abbott-seized-power/) He has abused disaster powers (which are suppose to simply let him waive requirements that might interfere with disaster response) to issue mandates that often have only tangential relation to the disaster. He has directed state agencies to submit all rules to his office for approval before they go into effect – something he has no authority to do. He vetoed the entire budget for the state legislature for the next two years, kneecapping an allegedly “co-equal” branch of government. And the reaction from Republicans in the Legislature and even some Democrats has been, “Thank you sir, may I have another!” He’s added a state Constitutional amendment to the Legislature’s agenda to repeal the 2/3 quorum requirement that Democrats are using right now to keep the state House from passing voting restrictions. This is literally the last tool that Democrats have to have any influence in the legislative process. It passed a Senate committee with all Republicans _and two Democrats_ voting for it. I don’t get it. Abbott doesn’t have any charisma. There aren’t legions of voters who are loyal to him personally like with Trump. He is, as near as can be discerned, either an alien or a robot. But he’s remade the Governorship in Texas into something akin to the kind of “Big Man” autocracies you saw in many postcolonial states. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/156 "2021-08-11T18:19:43Z")
A lot of it is him standing(sitting?) on the shoulders of Rick Perry, whose nearly Imperial governorship set the stage. But yeah, he’s made multiple power grabs on behalf of the governor’s office with nary a peep from the Legislature or even really populace at large. I suspect some of that may be some kind of sneaking recognition that the Legislature may go blue in the next decade or so, while statewide offices may still be more hotly contested, so better to expand their powers at the Legislature’s expense for when Republicans are in office. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/157 "2021-08-12T05:08:39Z")
> [@bump](#): > > In a bit of entertaining and welcome news, the County Judges of Dallas County (Dallas) and Bexar County (San Antonio) have filed for restraining orders against the executive order under the idea that the Governor’s emergency powers are only legally extended to actions that are necessary to mitigate the emergency, and that restricting things like this are outside of that power, as they do nothing to mitigate it. Both counties’ district court judges have granted those orders, so we may be seeing mandates in those counties as early as today. Haw. Haw. San Antonio area school districts immediately announced mask mandates. I’m hoping the Alamo Colleges and UTSA reinstate their mask mandates too. Harris Co. is following suit with Travis Co. just mandating masks in “violation” of the Gov. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/158 "2021-08-12T12:29:22Z")
My county judge (KP George of Fort Bend Co) just joined the crowd last night. Masks mandated in all public buildings, including public schools with the county’s attorney filing suit. Fuck Greg Abbott. He might have gotten more traction if he could keep the lights on but can’t even manage that. Better hope he can keep those ICUs powered in the next heat wave/blizzard. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/159 "2021-08-12T12:36:21Z")
TIL that Abbott named the Colt Walker [the official handgun of Texas.](https://www.click2houston.com/news/texas/2021/05/24/the-official-gun-of-texas-gov-abbott-names-this-historic-handgun-in-most-texas-move-ever/) [The gun known for blowing up in the shooter’s face.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SELI7GnlKik) (Forgotten Weapons video) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/160 "2021-08-12T17:40:28Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > My county judge (KP George of Fort Bend Co) just joined the crowd last night. Masks mandated in all public buildings, including public schools with the county’s attorney filing suit. I was happy to see that; my mother and brother live in Ft. Bend (Meadows Place & Katy), and his kids start kindergarten soon. I was particularly amused by the county judge’s tweet- something to the effect of “Masks are mandated. Gov. Abbott- see you in court!” All he left out was a middle finger emoji. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141.md?page=9)