Governor Greg Abbott Archives - Uvalde Hesperian

Texas Governor Abbott and Rep. Don McLaughlin praise House vote passing School Voucher Plan Bill

admin — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:24:54 +0000

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

04-17-25

Top Picture: Knippa ISD school crossing: file photo

Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Wednesday night April 16th, the Texas House voted and passed SB 2 or the School Choice Plan which will give parents the option of using public tax monies to help pay for private school education for their children.

Houston Public Media a publication of the University of Houston wrote, “After more than 12 hours of debate, the Texas House gave initial approval to two of the most closely-watched bills of the legislative session – a $7.7 billion public school funding package and a hotly contested proposal to create a pathway for families to use state tax dollars to help send their kids to private schools.”

Governor Greg Abbott today applauded the Texas House of Representatives for making Texas history by passing Senate Bill 2, the state’s universal school choice program in an official April 17th press release:

“For the first time in Texas history, our state has passed a universal school choice bill out of both chambers in the Texas Legislature,” said Governor Abbott. “This is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children. Texas could not have accomplished this without the hard work and unwavering support from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, Chairman Brandon Creighton, and Chairman Brad Buckley. I applaud the legislators who took a stand with the overwhelming majority of Texans who support school choice. When it reaches my desk, I will swiftly sign this bill into law, creating the largest day-one school choice program in the nation and putting Texas on a pathway to becoming the best state in America for educating our kids.”

Texas House District 80 Representative Don McLaughlin also praised the passage of the School Choice Bill on his Campaign Facebook Page:

“Last night, I stood with Texas parents—and with President Trump, the Texas House, and conservatives statewide—to deliver real education freedom for families.

This is a major conservative win. Parents are back in charge, and the days of unaccountable bureaucrats running our schools are coming to an end. ” McLaughlin said.

According to a KVUE news article, earlier this morning, the House passed an ESA bill which would allow parents to create Educational Savings Accounts.

“Record Funding for Public Schools”

Texas House also Passes HB2 to allocate “Record Funding” for Public Schools: According to a Press Release from the Governor Abbott’s Office he said, “The Texas House took a monumental step to increase education funding and teacher pay raises that puts Texas on the path to education excellence for our students,” said Governor Abbott. “Since I have been Governor, public education funding and average teacher pay have reached all-time highs and, now, House Bill 2 will add $7.7 billion more to fund a high-quality education for the next generation of Texas leaders. I thank Speaker Dustin Burrows and Chairman Brad Buckley for their steadfast leadership, and I look forward to signing this bill into law.”

With the passage of these bills related to Texas School Funding, the School Voucher Program and the creation of Educational Savings Accounts it is unclear as to how these different bills, if voted into law, will work on the ground level and what impact the School Voucher Plan will have on overall public school funding.

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Eagle Pass: Governor Abbott holds press conference with 14 other governors at Shelby Park speaking on the Border Crisis

admin — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 01:57:33 +0000

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Pictures by Robinson

National Guard soldiers lined up just before the start of the press conference

February 4th, 2024: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has chosen Shelby Park the location the State has decided to stand its ground against the Biden Administration by calling on the Texas National Guard to keep the U.S Border Patrol out. At this Sunday’s afternoon press conference, Abbott was joined by 14 other governors from around the United States to effectively double down on the Texas Governor’s move to take control of the Texas Border.

Governor Abbott said, “Since Biden has been elected, there have been three Houston’s who have crossed the border. An illegal immigrant who has gone across the Border 4 times and then murdered someone outside of Houston. There is imminent danger crossing the border all the time. I have used the laws in the constitution to help protect the states.”

The Texas Governor cited Article 1, Section 10 Clause 3 of the U.S Constitution as the legal grounds for Texas to act to secure its border:

Clause 3 Acts Requiring Consent of Congress

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Abbott and several other governors including Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and a few others each took turns after Abbott speaking on the Border Crisis and the failure of U.S President Joe Biden on securing the United States southern border with Mexico.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks at the podium

Montana Governor Gianforte said, “I’m in the northern Rockies, we have seen a 78% increase in fentanyl trafficking.”

“Not only has President Joe. Biden failed his duties but he has lied about it. We don’t stand with them in football but we stand with the State of Texas on the Border Crisis”” Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said, “This experiment in open border policy has been a devastating failure.”

Covering the Governor’s press conference were dozens of reporters representing state, national and world news outlets. Reporters who were granted access to Shelby Park and the press conference were required to RSVP the Governor’s media office by Friday, February 2nd no later than 5 PM. There were a number of reporters who were permitted to enter.

Outside of the Press Conference about a block from Shelby Park, protesters were situated on the sidewalks and street corners where the governors’ entourage would be passing by on its way out of the park.

Those protests in favor of closing the border and supporters of Presidential Candidate Donald Trump stood on opposite street corners of those who were against the Texas Governor’s Border Policies. Of those included several members of the Brown Berets. The protests appeared to remain peaceful.

Unidenifed news reporter gets her camera set up for the press conference

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott endorses Don McLaughlin for Texas House District 80 seat

admin — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 14:18:26 +0000

Photo from the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Press Release: From the Don McLaughlin for House District 80 Campaign: Top photo submitted by the Don McLaughlin campaign

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed Candidate Don McLaughlin for Texas House District 80 who is running in the Texas Republican primary election.

McLaughlin’s campaign released a press release Saturday, January 21st announcing the endorsement by Governor Greg Abbott on Friday, January 19th, 2024.

“I know Don will come to Austin to fight for a secure southern border, measures that expand school choice across Texas, and policies that strengthen our state’s booming economy. I encourage all Texans across House District 80 to join me in supporting Don McLaughlin for State Representative.” Gov. Greg Abbott said.

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Texas Senator Ted Cruz blasts Biden policies on immigration while Gutierrez criticizes Abbott’s buoys

admin — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:00:46 +0000

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian Picture Credit: Office of Senator Ted Cruz

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz from Texas appeared on Frontline with Carl Higbie on Newsmax Wednesday, September 6th to weigh in on the U.S. / Mexico Border Crisis.

“Of our nation’s two-thousand-mile border with Mexico twelve-hundred of those miles are along the state of Texas. I spend a lot of time on our southern border, and Carl as bad as your viewers think it is, I promise you it is a thousand times worse. … Over seven-million illegal immigrants have crossed under Joe Biden. … Senate Democrats and House Democrats … don’t care about the children they brutalize, the human traffickers, the women being sexually assaulted, and sadly they don’t care about the over one-hundred-thousand Americans that died last year of drug overdoses – seventy percent of which came from Chinese fentanyl flooding across the southern border.” Senator Cruz said.

On Friday, September 8th, Senator Cruz posted the followoing on Twitter:

In one day, 15,000 illegal aliens poured through the border into Del Rio, where the town’s population is 30,000.

Joe Biden’s open border policy has allowed crime and drugs to destroy our communities.#BidenBorderCrisis pic.twitter.com/4ZJE1SaNZ9

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 8, 2023

Senator Cruz is running for re-election in 2024 against Roland Gutierrez who currently holds a seat on the Texas State Senate, Gutierrez has recently criticised Texas Governor Greg Abbott on the Floating Bouys his administration placed in the Rio Grande River which divides U.S. and Mexico. Migrant deaths have been blamed on the bouys.

According to Yahoo News, In a recent decision of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, A three-judge panel provided Governor Greg Abbott and the state of Texas a win late Thursday, allowing a floating barrier of buoys and circular saw blades to remaintemporarilty in the Rio Grande River as the lawsuit progresses.

“The appeals court, which has jurisdiction over federal lawsuits pending in Texas, gave no reason for overturning the ruling Wednesday by Senior U.S. Judge David Alan Ezra that the state had violated the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 when it placed the floating barriers in the international river near Eagle Pass,” Yahoo News reported.

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Senator Gutierrez and Uvalde Mayor McLaughlin petition Governor Abbott to remove D.A. Busbee from Investigation Oversite

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:39:20 +0000

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Governor Abbott, OneStar Announce One-Stop Webpage For Donations To Support Uvalde Community

admin — Fri, 27 May 2022 22:20:22 +0000

May 27, 2022 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott today announced the OneStar Foundation has created a one-stop webpage for donations to support the victims’ families, teachers, and the Uvalde community during this time of healing following the shooting earlier this week. The OneStar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, will give 100% of the donations to the Robb School Memorial Fund, which was established by the First State Bank of Uvalde to ensure immediate financial support is given to those impacted by the horrific tragedy at Robb Elementary School. Funds will be used to cover immediate needs, such as healthcare expenses, flights and travel for families and loved ones, and funeral expenses, as well as long-term needs to support the community’s recovery.

“As the Uvalde community grieves this terrible crime, we have seen an outpouring of support from Texans and people around the country offering to help during this heartbreaking time,” said Governor Abbott. “Donations of any amount to the OneStar Foundation webpage will go a long way in letting these grief-stricken families, teachers, and loved ones know that they are not alone as they begin the long and difficult process of piecing their lives back together. The true spirit of the Lone Star State is Texans helping Texans, and we must continue supporting those working to heal in the weeks and months ahead.”

The Robb School Memorial Fund accepts donations on a one-time or monthly basis. Visit onestarfoundation.org/uvalde for more information on donating to support the families and the Uvalde community affected by the tragedy at Robb Elementary School. All donations will be held locally through the Robb Elementary Memorial Fund at First State Bank of Uvalde.

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and US Senator Cruz come to Uvalde Press Conference

admin — Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:22 +0000

National media and international media were both inside the Harrell Auditorium and outside the auditorium as the press conference began at 12:30 on Wednesday, May 25th. Texas Governor Greg Abbott sat Center Stage next to Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick with Texas US Senator Ted Cruz standing behind the Governor. They were flanked on both sides by State and Local officials including Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell, Texas Senator Tracy King, and Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin and officials from US Border Patrol and Texas State Police.

The security to the event was somewhat tight as press passes were checked at the entrance to the parking lot and at the Harrell Auditorium front doors.

Inside the auditorium there were over 100 reporters, many seated. There were a row of large TV Cameras set up on tripods on the floor space between the front and rear seating areas.

Following remarks given by Governor Abbott, shortly after Lt. Governor Dan Patrick was introduced and a tall figure approached the stage standing right below the assembly of dignitaries. Democratic Candidate Beto O’Rourke stood staring at Governor Abbott shouting at him.

The seated reporters stood up as O’Rourke started shouting at Governor Patrick. O’Rourke said a few words to the stunned assembly. US. Senator Ted Cruz was the first to speak saying, “Sit down! You’re out of line!”

“Let him talk! Let him talk!” a woman shouted from the audience.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin stood up and yelled, “Sir, You are out of line! You are out of line!”

Another voice from the audience yelled, “Go Home! Go Home!”

Law enforcement and the media converged on O’Rourke Mayor McLaughlin shouted at O’Rourke,” I can’t believe you sick son of a bitch…” the next words of McLaughlin were unclear but it sounded like he said “making this political,” O’Rourke was escorted out of the auditorium part way but started walking out on his own.

Such was a spectacle outside of the typical norm for Uvalde.

Governor Abbott spoke about the need for Mental Health Treatment and facilities and then later said the shooter was evil. A reporter followed by asking, “Was the shooter mentally ill or evil?” Abbott repeated his statement that the shooter was indeed evil but mental illness may have led him to this evil.

After the press conference ended, the press were asked to exit the auditorium.

For a good 45 minutes, dozens of reporters waited but aside from a few interviews being conducted most of the news personnel left.

One news reporter encountered had just arrived from the UK traveling a long distance to get to Uvalde but arrived too late for the press conference.

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Texas Governor Abbott holds meeting in Uvalde with Officials/ Holds Press Conference later in Weslaco

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 21:57:58 +0000

Governor Greg Abbot just spoke at live news conference at 3 PM today held in Weslaco after a coming to Uvalde for a roundtable discussion at noon today at the Uvalde County Fairplex with elected officials from Uvalde County as well as several surrounding counties including, Real, Zavala, Edwards, Kenney and Frio County. Governor Abbott came to Uvalde to discuss and address local issues including migrant foot traffic, bail-outs and migrants being dropped off in Uvalde according to Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin in a phone interview.

Don Mclaughlin said one of the new actions the State of Texas would be doing to help Uvalde would be to provide bus transportation for migrants being dropped off in Uvalde alleviating the expense from local monies being used to fund buses to transport migrants out of town to San Antonio.

McLaughlin stated many of the migrants coming to Texas and the United States are single men rather than families who are coming without any means of support and cannot legally work in the US.

From Governor Abbott’s meeting with local and county officials

in Uvalde which lasted about 2 hours, according to McLaughlin, Abbott boarded a plane to Weslaco where he was scheduled to speak at a live news conference at 3 PM the same day.

At the news conference, Abbott said the State of Texas would start arranging bus transportation for migrants and would start sending the busses full of migrants to Washington D,C. Later, when asked what would be the first destination for the buses, Governor Abbott said, it would be the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Abbott the State of Texas would implement several news strategies in responding to the migrant crisis at the Texas border including the following:

New Enhanced Safety Inspections of vehicles entering the United States at International border crossings. Abbott said this action would dramatically slow traffic into the United States from Mexico.

State to provide busses to local officials to transport migrants to Washington D.C.

Governor Abbott and Mayor McLaughlin both mentioned the end of Title 42 in May. Last Friday, President Joe Biden announced the his administration plans on ending the Title 42 policy at the end of May 2022.
State to Light Migrant Routes neat the International Border at Night
Texas to add boat blocade to Rio Grande River ; Razor Wire or Concertina Wire near the Rio Grand River’s edge
State to provide riot gear tp Texas DPS and National Guard Members.

According to https://americasvoice.org/blog/title42/

“WHAT IS TITLE 42?

Title 42 is part of U.S. health law, specifically Section 262 of U.S. Code Title 42 which prohibits entry into the United States when the Director for Disease Control believes “there is a serious danger to the introduction of [a communicable] disease into the United States.” Essentially, depending on the health situation, the U.S. is able to prohibit entry to anyone except U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their spouses and children. “

According to a Fox News report, The Biden Administration announced on Friday April 1st, 2022 , it plans to lift Title 42 at the end of May 2022.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-lift-title-42-end-may-despite-fears-looming-migrant-wave

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