.@TexasGOP convention opens with video of @GovAbbott giving vocal defense of mask mandate, executive power during pandemic
Abbott: “Now I know that many of you all are frustrated — so am I. I know that many of you do not like the mask requirement — I don’t either. It is the last thing that I wanted to do — actually the next to the last. The last thing that any of us want is to" shut Texas down again.
Abbott: "Each day the facts get worse. ... If we don't slow this disease quickly, our hospitals will get overrun and I fear it will even inflict some of the people that I'm talking to right now."
Cornyn campaign says buy is "nearly" six figures, running today through runoff in six markets: Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Harlingen and Beaumont
Obviously interested to hear Abbott's take on this, but it appears to thread the needle, or at least try to, by focusing the enforcement mechanism on businesses vs. individuals
"Consistent w/ [Abbott’s order], no civil or criminal penalty will be imposed on individuals for failure to wear a face covering"
Biz could face $1K fine for “failure to develop & implement” policy req. masks when distancing isn’t feasible
New from @GovAbbott spox: "Judge Wolff’s order is not inconsistent with the Governor’s executive order. Our office urges officials and the public to adopt and follow the health protocols for businesses established by doctors that are available at open.texas.gov."
.@GovAbbott announces executive order to "limit personal interactions" across Texas while still allowing "essential" activities such as those listed here: tdem.texas.gov/essentialservi…
The order is effective thru April 30 & keeps schools closed until May 4 unless otherwise extended.
So... statewide shelter-in-place order? Abbott says shelter-in-place "is not a good term for use for any of these strategies that have been articulated by anybody. Similarly, this is not a stay-at-home strategy...This is a standard that's based upon essential services"/activities
"To the extent it’s not overridden by this executive order," local officials still have the opportunity to impose stricter rules, @GovAbbott says. #coronavirus
Several minutes in, @chiproytx town hall in San Antonio erupts when he brings up Omar and Tlaib Israel trip controversy. “Two options: Be respectful or leave,” Roy tells those shouting out. “I’m not going to allow you to take over this event.” #TX21
Twenty minutes in, Roy still getting interruptions, and some audience members sparring with one another, despite two efforts by pastor (his church is venue) to calm everyone down.
Amid continued outbursts from some audience members, and more efforts to calm them, Roy wraps up. He was on stage for about 34 minutes.