Texas Dems call Abbott's proposals on defunding police a "fear campaign"

Texas Dems call Abbott’s proposals on defunding police a fear campaign

The Texas Democratic Party says the governor's proposal to defund cities that defund police essentially defunds police in its own way. 

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Democrats are responding to the governor's announcements calling his proposals: a "fear campaign" and saying he should be focused on the COVID-19 pandemic instead.

The Texas Democratic Party says the governor's proposal to defund cities that defund police "essentially defunds police" in its own way.

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Gov. Abbott signs pledge against defunding Texas police departments

Debate over defunding police departments continues at the city and state level and today Texas Governor Greg Abbott has joined other state leaders in signing a pledge against defunding police departments in Texas.

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The party says Texas has only gotten more dangerous since Abbott took office so it's crazy to think he knows the best ways to keep people safe. Instead, they believe the governor is using the anti-defund police agenda to drive Republicans to the polls.

Democrats say the coronavirus, the economy and healthcare are issues the public is most concerned about.

"So those are the issues that actually matter to people it's absolutely ridiculous to me that Governor Abbott would kind of push this as his main things as his main message point, it's really not going to work if Abbott wants to meddle in Austin city affairs he should run for mayor of Austin and we'll beat him there," Texas Democrats communications director Abhi Rahman said.

COVID-19 is the leading cause of deaths in law enforcement

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial fund, 106 officers have died this year due to COVID-19 complications.

Texas Democrats point out more police officers have died from COVID-19 than from any other cause this year. They say if the governor was serious about helping officers and public safety, he would focus more on the pandemic.

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