Texas Governor Unveils Strategy for Border Wall Construction, Approves $250 Million as Down Payment

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced key components of the Lone Star state’s plan to build its own barrier along its 1,200-mile border with Mexico at a press conference in Austin on Wednesday, including authorizing $250 million as a down payment to kickstart the process.

The Republican governor said that the funds are being drawn from the state budget, which allocates $1.1 billion towards border security—a record for Texas. The down payment will be used to hire a project manager and contractors for the border wall.

A letter (pdf) authorizing the transfer of the funds was signed at the press conference by Abbott, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, state House Speaker Dade Phelan, state Senator Jane Nelson, and state Rep. Greg Bonnen.

Abbott also signed a separate letter (pdf) directing the Texas Facilities Commission to hire a project manager to oversee the border wall construction, as well as the planning and execution of the construction. The project manager will also be in charge of hiring contractors and subcontractors to build the wall.

“Once hired, the program manager and contractors will identify state land and land that private landowners and local governments can volunteer for the wall,” the governor’s office announced in a release.

Anyone can donate to the construction of the wall via the donation page www.borderwall.texas.gov, Abbott announced. The Texas Division of Emergency Management will manage the donations.

Abbott have gotten quite a bit right, especially the last few days.

No Covid Passport
Will refuse to comply with Federal laws that violate the constitution
Constitutional carry (About four hours ago)
Finish the wall
Prosecute illegals under state trespassing law.

Earlier he enforced some voting laws that kept the democrats from stealing the election in Texas. The democrats here in Houston screamed like they’d been electrocuted when he did that. He’s had the AG go after some of the smaller fraudsters that were trying to steal the election here.

He was called all sorts of names for lifting the COVID restrictions completely when he did. You can argue he was to restrictive on the Covid Lockdowns, but he began lifting them far earlier than most.

In February 2020 we really didn’t have any idea what was going to happen. There was legitimate cause for concern at that time. It is easy to complain with 20/20 hindsight. He played it safe and it was probably a smart move. The eased up incrementally. That’s a far better policy than what happened in California, Michigan, or Ewwwww Yuck.

He has a pretty solid record at this point. Where I would offer criticism is his handling of ERCOT. He should have them in stocks, publicly displayed for people to throw rotten vegetables at.

Can Texas buy US Govt owned fencing that has been stopped from being used by the Biden Admin? Might as well put it to good use and it is already paid for by the govt. The Texas National Guard can do the picking it up and bringing it to construction sites.

My son did it in Iraq with tons of bridging equipment on his truck, one hand on the wheel, the other on his M249, going thru the 100 mile long sandstorm and making supply runs of 750 miles one way (Kuwait to Balad, and back, the first being via the Euphrates River (Objective Peace, April 3, 2003) bridge seizure/ribbon bridge construction under enemy fire).

299th Army Reserve Company, (Activated), MRB (Multiple Role Bridging), out of Ft. Belvoir, Va. - Presidential Unit citation for their construction role during combat operations.

Some of our kids are “can do” men, not soyboys and basement dwellers.

Constitutional carry (About four hours ago)

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Really? Did he finally sign it? I haven’t looked...yet...

I completely agree with everything else yoou said. Abbott hasn’t been the greatest, and I would like to see him act more like Desantis now and then, but in general he has done fairly well for Texas.

The only thing I didn’t like about his handling of Kung Flu was the second, and completely unwarranted lockdown. What you said is true though, he did ease up on restrictions before everyone else but DeSantis, and it hasn’t been as strict here to begin with.

I was also disappointed with his handling of ERCOT, yes, they should be in stocks, I’d go buy some tomatoes and let them rot for a few days...Might also have a couple of neighbors who would donate a basket full each. We were hit hard out here.

Otherwise, he has done fairly well. He kept his word, when the legislature put an open carry bill on his desk, he immediately signed it, as promised. He has promised to sign the constitutional carry bill but last time I checked 2 or 3 days ago, hadn’t done it yet. That’s why I asked, I haven’t checked since then.

Abbott may be a bit wishy washy here and there, but my complaints after watching him for several years are few. Overall, he has done fairly well, and much better than the Newsoms and cuomos of this world will ever be. Just look next door at Louisiana and there higher taxes, thanks to their liberal governor. About 5 years ago gas was $.30 cheaper in Shreveport than here. Last time I checked about 2 years ago, I found it $.06 to $.28 MORE...

Befpore Imoved back here in 2012 I would get as in Shreveport, come here and do whatever running around I needed, then get gas on the way back through Shreveport. (I lived in northeast Louisiana). Prices dropped literally $.25 to $.30 a gallon once you hit Lousiana. Same in Many, where we woud go for smokes.

Tobacco was a different story too. Taxes here made it worth the trip to go get smokes in Louisiana 1 1/2 hours away, for 3 or 4 people. I think it was about $10 a carton less. Edwards got elected, democrats passed a tobacco tax bill (2 actualoly), eedwards sined theone that implemented the higher tax, $1.40 a pack. Now it’s more expensive in Louisiana to smoke. I finally quit 3 years ago next month, didn’t like the way I did it, but I finally quit after 45 years. SO it makes little difference to me now, but the concept of more and more taxes is unacceptable...and democrats do it every time.

Abbott has not done that, in fact he signed a bill 2 years ago that should reduce Texas property taxes. Unfortunately the local twits increased our property value appraisal, taxes went UP instead...it was a nice try though...

Abbott may not be great, but he has done pretty well for Texas, I’ve found very little to complain about. IN several cases he has kept his word on major issues, got the legislature too hand him a bill long ago making Texas a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary State, open carry, now constitutional carry, reduced property taxes bill, pretty strong on the border, no new taxes that I’m aware of...can’t think of much more...

Now look at Newsom, Whitmer and Cuomo and tell me how much Abbott sucks...yeah right...

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