Attorney General Greg Abbott

AG Greg Abbott: City & ISD Domestic Partner Benefits Unconstitutional (Update)

KUT Staff — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:49:19 +0000

Update: More signs from the City of Austin that Attorney General Greg Abbott's opinion won't mean any changes for now: a memo from City Manager Marc Ott on the matter. It reads, in part:

While we will continue to evaluate the Attorney General’s opinion, it continues to be our belief that the City’s domestic partner group benefits program is not prohibited by the Texas Marriage Amendment, and that the Texas Legislature did not intend the Amendment to have that effect when it was placed before the voters in 2005.
The Attorney General’s opinion does not require the City to take any specific action, and we do not intend to change domestic partner eligibility for our benefits program at this time.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins Believes County's Same-Sex Benefits Plan Legal

Bill Zeeble — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:46:47 +0000

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins believes the county's same-sex benefits plan approved last fall is legal, despite Monday's opinion from the Texas Attorney General that said local governments and school districts offering marriage benefits to same sex partners violate the state constitution.

Castro Seeking City Attorney Opinion Following Attorney General Ruling On Domestic Benefits

Ryan Loyd — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:13:24 +0000

In response to a request by state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has issued an opinion on domestic partner benefits.

Abbott said cities, school districts and other "political subdivisions" who allow benefits to domestic partners are in violation of the Texas Constitution.

Supreme Court Takes Up Voting Rights Act, Civil Rights Leaders Voice Support

David Martin Davies — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:15:00 +0000

On Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case that could considerably weaken a key part of the Voting Rights Act. Texas civil rights leaders say Latino and African American voters in the state will certainly be discriminated against should a part of the Voting Rights Act be struck down.

Texas School Districts Failing To Comply With Required Safety Audits

David Martin Davies — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:18:06 +0000

[Update: Thursday, Dec. 20] The Texas School Safety Center, located at Texas State University in San Marcos, now says there are only 29 schools not in compliance with the safety audits.

This is down from the 78 total districts who did not meet the Texas Education Code safety requirement -- 38 that did not report, and 40 that were not fully compliant. The center said that slow paperwork is to blame for those schools that are now cleared.

Greg Abbott Threatens Election Observers, Texas Education in Court and Hangings in Gainsville

David Martin Davies — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:51:39 +0000

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is threatening an international democracy observer group with criminal charges if they interfere with Texas election locations. The education system in Texas is on trial this week to answer the question: Is the present system violating the state’s constitution? 150 years ago there was a hanging in Gainesville that claimed the lives of 40 men.