Texas and the Confederate controversy over statues, rallies

Summary

Texas Governor Greg Abbott addresses the removal of Confederate statues, condemning racism and violence while acknowledging historical imperfections. Amidst safety concerns, Texas A&M cancels a 'White Lives Matter' rally. Lawmakers face a stalemate on property taxes, and Abbott signs bills on women's health, education funding, and voter fraud, but the 'bathroom bill' stalls.

Takeaways

• 🗽 Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that removing Confederate statues won't erase the past or advance the nation's future.
• 🔍 Abbott condemned the racist and violent actions at a white nationalist rally protesting the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia.
• 🏛️ Texas has the second highest number of Confederate symbols in the country, following Virginia.
• 🚫 Texas A&M officials blocked a planned September 11th 'White Lives Matter' rally, citing safety concerns.
• 📢 White nationalist Preston Wigginton issued a press release indicating plans to sue and hold an event on or near the College Station campus.
• 🏢 Lawmakers faced a stalemate on property taxes, cutting out of the Capitol a day before the end of the special session.
• 📚 Governor Greg Abbott signed bills into law, including those continuing a task force studying maternal mortality, school finance, and teacher retirement systems health care plans.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The so-called 'bathroom bill' did not reach the governor's desk, which aimed to regulate which bathrooms transgender Texans could use.
• 🏛️ A few Republican senators want a special session to pass property tax legislation, though the governor has not committed to this.
• 🏢 A federal court ruled two of Texas' congressional districts as invalid, potentially impacting the 2018 elections.

Q & A

What did Texas Governor Greg Abbott say about the removal of Confederate statues?

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that the removal of Confederate statues won't erase our past and it doesn't advance our nation's future. He emphasized the importance of remembering that our history is not perfect and learning from it to ensure such events don't happen again.

What event led to Governor Abbott's statement on Confederate statues?

Governor Abbott's statement came in response to the deadly violence that erupted at a white nationalist rally protesting the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee near the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville.

How does Texas rank in terms of the number of Confederate symbols?

Texas has the second highest number of Confederate symbols in the country, behind Virginia.

What was the planned event at Texas A&M that was blocked by officials?

Officials at Texas A&M blocked plans for a September 11th 'White Lives Matter' rally, citing safety concerns.

What was Preston Wiginton's response to the blocking of the rally at Texas A&M?

Preston Wiginton, a white nationalist, issued a press release stating 'Charlottesville today, Texas A&M tomorrow,' indicating his plans to sue and his determination to hold some kind of event on or near the College Station campus.

What was the outcome of the special session of the Texas legislature?

Lawmakers failed to pass bills on nine of the twenty items on Governor Greg Abbott's agenda by the end of the special session, a day shy of the deadline.

What actions did Governor Abbott take immediately following the special session?

Governor Abbott wasted no time in signing all the bills from the special session into law, including those related to studying maternal mortality, school finance, teacher retirement systems health care plans, and addressing mail-in ballot voter fraud.

Why did the 'bathroom bill' not make it to Governor Abbott's desk?

The 'bathroom bill,' which aimed to regulate which bathrooms transgender individuals could use, passed the Senate quickly but did not receive as much attention in the House, thus it did not make it to Governor Abbott's desk.

What is the current status of the property tax issue in Texas?

A handful of Republican senators want Governor Abbott to call lawmakers back to pass property tax legislation, but while the governor hasn't ruled it out, it doesn't seem likely.

What recent ruling did a federal court make regarding Texas congressional districts?

A federal court ruled that two of Texas' congressional districts are invalid, which could have implications for the 2018 elections.