Attorney general visits with Republican Women
By Joseph Basco
Midland Reporter-Telegram
January 16, 2013
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott covered a range of topics, including Midland’s conservative “clutches” and suing President Barack Obama, during a visit Wednesday with Midland County Republican Women.
“It is great to be out of the peoples’ republic of Austin — back into the conservative clutches of Midland County,”Abbott told a packed ballroom at the Petroleum Club.
Abbott appeared on the same day that Obama announced his gun violence reduction proposals, which include 23 executive orders, such as banning military-style assault weapons and improving mental health services.
“One of the greatest threats I’ve seen in this nation — in a long time — is the abuse of executive orders by this president,” Abbott said. “We have some lawsuits locked and loaded ready to go to town on this president.”
Abbott wasn’t able to respond to particulars of Obama’s proposals because he hadn’t reviewed them by the time of the luncheon. But he said he is prepared to take legal action if Obama’s executive orders violate the Second Amendment or if the president has exceeded his executive authority.
“It’s inappropriate for politicians to overreact and take actions that are both counterproductive and unconstitutional,” Abbott said.
Rhonda Lacy, MCRW president, said Obama plays on the hearts of people, and that the executive orders for gun violence reduction is more about politics for him instead of what needs to be done.
“It’s much more of a mental health issue, and I think it’s greatly about the violent video gaming that is going on,” Lacy said. “I taught for 30 years before doing all this. I saw how it changed children.”
Other Texas politicians, such as Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, shared similar opinions on the issue, citing the Second Amendment as a right for citizens.
“The first priority must be to enforce the laws already on the books, something (the Obama administration) has a poor track record of doing,” said Drew Brandewie, spokesperson for Cornyn.
State Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) said he does not see how the proposals will reduce gun violence, but thinks the mental health elements are relevant. He said the proposals are meant to fill the “void” of mental health services, but he does not think that is the case at all.
“What else could have prevented Newtown?,” Selinger said.
Another issue Abbott discussed was a lawsuit he filed last year against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder regarding Texas’ voter ID law. He said Holder is preventing the state from enforcing it.
“We’ve had dead people casting votes, live people voting twice, foreign nationals registered to vote in the state of Texas illegally,” Abbott said. “I prosecuted voter fraud across the entire state.”
Texas Senate Bill 14 would have required people to present an ID before voting. A federal panel blocked the law, citing its unfair burden to Latinos, racial minorities and the poor, according to a Houston Chronicle report.
Lacy said this topic was one of the most important ideas Abbott brought to the table Wednesday.
“That’s one of the things Obama has stopped us on,” Lacy said. “Of course, out here, I think we’re redistricted just fine.”
Lacy’s mother, Juandelle Lacy Roberts, asked Abbott about redistricting, saying the issue “fouled up” Republicans this year.
Abbott said he predicts the U.S. Supreme Court will decide in June to strike down Section 5 of the U.S. Voting Rights Act because of a lawsuit filed by Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange regarding “preapproval” for changing voting systems.
He said the court’s rejection will free Texas from the limitations imposed by Section 5 and give the state greater sovereignty to develop its own election system laws.
“That in turn will mean that Texas should win on its redistricting case and its voter ID case,” Abbott said.
Abbott deflected a question about whether he plans to run for governor. He said 2014 is far away, and there are many issues to worry about, including legal matters against the Obama administration and the legislative session.
“We’ll let politics take care of itself while we work our way through representing our Texans,” Abbott said.
Roberts said there is a possibility he could run for the office.
“He’ll test the waters,” she said. “A lot of it will depend on what Rick Perry’s gonna do. I think if Perry sends his balloons up and they don’t come down good, I think Greg Abbott is positioning himself to be there.”