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Statement on Gov. Abbott State of the State Address

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2/2/2021
Contact: Juan Ramiro Sarmiento
(785) 760 6567 | juanramiro.sarmiento@younginvincibles.org

Statement on Gov. Abbott State of the State Address

(Houston, TX) – Last night, Texas Governor Greg Abbott delivered his State of the State address outlining five emergency legislative priorities amid a global pandemic and economic downturn. The majority of Governor Abbott’s proposals centered on politically charged issues including shielding police departments from any efforts to curtail exorbitant budgets, renewed efforts to limit access to the ballot box, expanding access to guns and protecting corporations from liability if they endangered the health and safety of their employees.

In response, Aurora Harris, Southern Region Director for Young Invincibles, issued the following statement:

“While we are encouraged by Governor Abbott’s expressed support for the expansion of broadband access — an essential utility in an era of remote education, work, and telehealth brought about by the ongoing global pandemic — we are dismayed by the Governor’s lack of urgency in providing tangible assistance for millions of Texans across the state.

The emergency legislative items elevated by Governor Abbott fail to meet the moment. Our highest-ranking state leader ought to be focused on delivering relief to Texans and addressing the most pressing issues, but instead finds himself preoccupied with misplaced priorities.

Even if Medicaid expansion is not a pressing priority for Governor Abbott, we know it is within reach during the 2021 Texas legislative session. Medicaid expansion is a matter of life and death for nearly 1 million people in the state and YI is resolute in our commitment to affordable health care access.

When it was time to deliver for frontline, essential workers, Governor Abbott chose corporations.
When it was time to defend our democracy, Governor Abbott chose voter suppression.
When it was time to protect lives, Governor Abbott chose guns.
When it was time to act in the face of injustice, Governor Abbott chose the police state.
When it was time to expand access to health care, Governor Abbott chose politics.

We hoped for better, but are not surprised by these policy priorities.”

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