Posted on 01/10/2015 6:53:39 AM PST by TADSLOS
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor-Elect Greg Abbott criticized city bans this week and said reducing “regulatory burdens” would make Texas a better state.
“The truth is Texas is being California-ized and you may not even be noticing it,” said Abbott as he spoke Thursday. “It’s being done at the city level with bag bans, fracking bans, tree cutting bans. We’re forming a patchwork quilt of bans and rules and regulations that is eroding the Texas model.”
If you live in Austin, you’ve likely had an experience with the plastic bag ban.
“I realized that something that I originally thought was a hassle is something that I now appreciate,” said Robert Schmidt, in support of the bag ban in Austin.
Other shoppers haven’t come around to the changes.
“I never know if my bags are in my truck or in my van,” said another shopper.
Texas has already seen attempts from the legislature to limit city rules. A bill failed last session known as the “Shopping Bag Freedom Act,” which aimed invalidate city bag bans. This year another bill would require certain city ballot measures to go in front of the attorney general before it could go to a vote.
The governor will have to use his influence to accomplish changes. Clinical Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs Sherri Greenberg says she believes Abbott has support — given the makeup of at the Capitol.
“The governor comes in in his new position. He’s in his honeymoon period,” said Greenberg. “He won overwhelmingly. He also has Republican control, all the statewide offices and the House and the Senate.”
Greenberg says the issue raised by Abbott is a continuation of a long-standing debate in Texas about local control and the amount of regulations in the state.
“[Unchecked over-regulation by cities] is contrary to my vision for Texas,” said Abbott. “My vision is one where individual liberties are not bound by city limit signs. I will insist on protecting unlimited liberty to ensure that Texas will continue to grow and prosper.”
I have a few conservative friends who were disgusted with California, prompting them to move to Texas.
Correct!
First law the Texas legislature should pass is you need to be a resident of Texas for a minimum of 10 years before you can run for office.... At any level.
That will get rid of the libs who move here to get away from their own liberal laws then try to implement what didn’t work in their own states.
Truth. The indications were there to be seen.
Just as the US shoul have banned immigrants from Muslim countries, Texas should not allow east coast and west coast economic refugees to vote in state elections for at least ten years.
>> you need to be a resident of Texas for a minimum of 10 years before you can run for office.... At any level.
Your lips to GOD’s ear!
It’s pretty easy to amend our constitution. I’d vote for that rule.
Austin has had California Envy for about 20 years. Any nutty idea spawned out there is tried here. After the bag ban, I moved to the suburbs and I keep a spare plastic bag for if I shop (rarely) in the city.
But Abbott hasn't poked the two biggest local overreaches - "sanctuary cities" and gender equality ordinances that outlaw common sense in the name of ethnic or sexual diversity. IMO, these are even worse than bag bans.
The 4th branch of gov’t IS the regulatory branch.
Specious comparison.
“Remember The Alamo!”
There are just a few states with Home Rule, including Texas, and Texas has the highest degree.
A good example was the recent Ebola case in Dallas in which the County Judge(Clay Jenkins) had more authority than the Guv
In Texas there are General Law cities and Home Rule cities
“You need to prevent the California and northeastern transplants from getting into local and state politics.”
That’s what happened to California.
How to spread ebola and other communicable diseases 101: Make everyone drag the same bags back and forth to the store that have been on the ground, in the trunk of the car, on someone else’s countertop. The ones where meat juices have leaked out and soaked the bags. The ones that were placed on the subway seat where the homeless person was sitting 10 minutes before. Those bags. You want to use those bags to “save the earth”.
Can you bring your own plastic bags from competing stores outside of the area? I wonder what the reaction would be?
Answer is Bush then.
Well said!
Many on here don’t realize Pelosi was a charter member of the East Coast Mob prior to heading west in the 70s to assume her lifetime position in Cal’s 12th Congressional District.
Most of those bags fall apart if you wash them. I have a couple of them and like you I use them to carry other stuff. Actually I think I’ve used them lately to pack things in to donate. I’ve been cleaning closets and usually have a bag or two of stuff to donate every month.
True, Texas has "Home Rule" cities. And a Home Rule city can pass any regulations or laws it deems necessary...
unless state law prohibits it.
Therefore, Texas state government holds absolute sway over Texas cities, howsoever they choose to exercise it. Which, of course, was exactly my original point.
Paper or plastic? Kill a tree or choke a fish! Of course you can bring your own cloth bag and spread its bacteria to all your food. That would satisfy libs ?
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