Castro, Escobar involved Abbott probably misappropriated COVID-19 funds; Texas officers say spending adheres to federal steering
EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Nine congressional Democrats are accusing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott of “possibly” misappropriating COVID-19 funds to finance Operation Lone Star.
On Monday, they despatched a letter urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to investigate Abbott’s alleged use of federal cash supposed for coronavirus prevention and reduction to finance a regulation enforcement operation on the Mexican border they are saying has been wasteful and proven little outcomes.
“As you continue your oversight of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds, we urge you to ensure all states are using these crucial funds for the reasons they were meant to be used,” the federal lawmakers led by Texas Democratic U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro and Veronica Escobar mentioned within the letter. “These funds are critical to help our state recover from the devastation of the past two years. Governor Abbott must not be allowed to use federal coronavirus relief funds to further his political theater at the expense of Texas families.”
Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to the surge in unlawful immigration that he mentioned the federal authorities has failed to management. Two months later, he issued a catastrophe declaration in 48 counties and despatched Department of Public Safety assets and the Texas National Guard to fight smuggling, trespassing and human trafficking on the border.
The Democrats are involved about Operation Lone Star drawing cash from the American Rescue Plan Act supposed for well being, schooling, human providers and the legal justice system.
“Gov. Abbott is taking this funding away from integral public sector resources and allocating it to Operation Lone Star, which the Texas Legislature has already funded with almost $2 billion toward border security over the next two years,” the Democrats mentioned. “It is negligent and irresponsible for Gov. Abbot to direct extra funding to Operation Lone Star, particularly if the funding in query was supposed to assist Texans rebuild from the pandemic.
Renae Eze, Abbott’s press secretary and communications adviser, mentioned the governor has labored with the Texas legislature to allocate federal funds in a fashion that adheres to federal steering. She added the state has been compelled to use $4 billion in tax {dollars} to do the federal authorities’s job when it comes to defending residents of the state.
“Rather than attacking Texas for responding to their border disaster — that they created and escalated in the last year — President Biden and Democrats in Congress need to stop playing politics and do their jobs to secure our border,” she mentioned.
