Greg Abbott and Lupe Valdez collide for health care, tuition and taxes as they compete with Friday night lights | 2018 Elections



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Tuition fees for immigrants

Valdez, the first gay Latina to run a sheriff's Texas department, accused Abbott of being insensitive to young Hispanics looking to improve.

Referring to a 2001 Texas law allowing immigrants in the country without permission to pay tuition in public colleges, she portrays herself as a defender and Abbott as a threat.

"We will always make the choice that makes people better," said Valdez, adding that "public education is a factor of equalization."

But Abbott said the law was flawed: it required the student to be on the path to citizenship. Federal law does not provide that route.

Valdez replied: "So, do you blame the kids for a broken immigration system?"

"This country is based on the rule of law," Abbott said.

With respect to school violence, Abbott defended a proposal from round tables he had ordered after the May shootout in Santa Fe High, which left 10 dead. The plan is to arm more school officials, including teachers.

Valdez jumped on it like an idiot.

Abbott, however, pointed out that other types of school district employees could also receive training in the use of weapons and the response to an armed intruder.

"It does not have to be a teacher," he said.

The roundtables also presented proposals to improve mental health screening and treatment and to help districts choose to "strengthen" campuses, he said.

Removal of Confederate plaque

Abbott, seeking to broaden his call at the center, has made some news.

Asked about a plaque affixed near the Capitol Rotunda a few years after the landmark decision of the US Supreme Court in the case of Brown Vs. Board of Education, which prohibited school segregation, he said that he did not have "unilateral power" to order it. But for the first time, he called on lawmakers to do so.

"Because it's the legislature that set it up, it's up to the legislature to shoot it," Abbott said. "But should they delete it because of the factual inaccuracy? Absolutely."

Valdez suggested taking a more muscular approach to removing plaque.

"If this plaque harms anyone, then we should sit down and do something about it," she said. "We just have to take care of it and do it."

When GOP leaders tried last year to pass a bill regulating the use of restrooms and locker rooms by transgender Texans, Abbott was asked if he would push him to do so. he was re-elected at next year's session.

He replied that the toilet bill was not on his agenda. But he would not promise not to sign one if he met him on his desk.

Asked about a persistent problem that Valdez, who acquired several rental homes, had to pay property taxes on time, Abbott refused to hit her hard.

For his part, Valdez said: "I also chose not to raise the rent of my tenants, so I paid it in payments."

Marijuana merges?

As for the legalization of marijuana, Valdez said she supports this for medical use.

Abbott stopped not to imitate his position, although he was worried that too many people were imprisoned for possession of small quantities. The governor stated that he would be in favor of taking possession of 2 ounces or less in a class C offense – essentially a quote. Valdez agreed with that. She also stated that she would support a referendum on the legalization of the pot for recreational purposes.

Abbott, who has risen through Texas politics for more than two decades, has resigned from Houston, his adopted hometown, to the state Supreme Court and the Attorney General.

The sliding pole

There, he spent 12 years as the state's leading lawyer. He also developed a reputation for two things that kept him from standing out at the GOP primaries and in a prime position to succeed Republican Gov. Rick Perry: the culture of his party's social conservatives and the prodigious success of collecting of funds.

Under the governor's presidency, Abbott struggled to keep the reins of social conservatives – and tea activists who emerged in 2009-2010 – while clearly showing Republicans and economically conservative independents that he was listening to them. also.

Dan Patrick has become a senator and lieutenant governor of the state's radio talk show, where he heads a Senate that leans more and more toward the conservative Republican movement.

Although Patrick disavowed any interest in wanting to overthrow Abbott, this simple opportunity allowed him to protect his right flank throughout his first term as governor. Last year, Patrick's proposed lavatory bill, which he described as a "privacy bill" for women and girls, was the best illustration.

When the House blocked the bill, Patrick called an extra meeting with the bathrooms on the agenda – and Abbott called one that included other topics.

Patrick recently aired a TV commercial extolling his partnership with Abbott, but the governor's relationship with House Republicans was less than cordial.

Abbott's strategists said one of his goals in the November 6 elections is not only to win big on Valdez, but also to use his spokesman's army to help GOP candidates win seats. legislation, including in the House.

Giving the governor the benefit of looking down newsletters is his huge fundraising advantage. Until June 30, Abbott had collected about $ 50 million in campaign contributions. Between February 25 and June 30, he spent $ 22 million, including $ 16 million for advertising time on television and radio. He had more than $ 29 million in cash left.

Valdez did not break the million dollar mark.

Austin correspondent Lauren McGaughy contributed to this report.

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