Texans are suffering without power because those in power have failed us. As with Covid, a natural disaster has become far deadlier due to the inaction & ineptitude of Abbott and Texas’ Republican leadership. This didn’t have to happen and doesn’t have to continue. 1/4
While they focused on bathroom bills, “show me your papers” legislation and fighting with sports teams over the Star Spangled Banner, 30 million Texans were left vulnerable to uncontrolled Covid spread, a bungled vaccine rollout and now this “rolling” power blackout. 2/4
If you can’t do your most important job - protecting the lives of those you were sworn to serve - then get out of the way and give the power and resources to local leaders who are fighting with all they’ve got to get past your mess and save the people in their communities. 3/4
State leaders don’t get to say that they didn’t see this coming. Energy experts and State House Dems, among others, were warning of this for years. Abbott chose to ignore the facts, the science and the tough decisions and now Texans will once again pay the price. 4/4
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Travis County Judge @AndyBrownATX says that if you need emergency 4x4 transportation in Austin/Travis county you can email: COAemergencyrides@austintexas.Gov
Your have undermined public health and local leadership at every turn, and now too many of our family, friends and neighbors are dead because of it. 1/8
If you’d followed the science instead of the polling from the start, we could have contained Covid, saved lives and let everyone get back to work. More than 4 million unemployment claims and too many businesses sidelined because you couldn’t do the right thing. 2/8
Also not selling so well: you’ve abandoned rural Texans. 21 hospitals have closed in rural counties since 2010, and now more than a million Texans might lose phone & internet service because you cut subsidies for those providers. In the middle of a pandemic. 3/8
We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to save and strengthen American democracy. It’s critical that the House and Senate pass the For The People Act so that all Americans have equal access to the ballot. 1/6 usatoday.com/story/opinion/…
It would end partisan gerrymandering and the system by which members of Congress choose their voters by creating independent commissions to draw our congressional districts. 2/6
It would end felon disenfranchisement throughout America, restoring a civic voice to millions, and offering a second chance to returning citizens. 3/6
Don’t let him off the hook. Don’t let him make this about “Hollywood” — this is about Ted Cruz aiding and abetting an insurrection that killed 5 people including a cop and very nearly ended in the murders of members of Congress and the Vice President.
Why does he keep this fight going with Seth Rogen even though he’s getting destroyed at every turn? Because he’s guilty of sedition. He’s hoping distraction & time diminish the urgency of accountability. Don’t let him change the channel or the subject, it is sedition every time.
Keep the pressure up. The Houston Chronicle, El Paso Times and San Antonio Express News have all called on him to resign. Joe Manchin, so hidebound by Senate tradition that he won’t consider ending the filibuster, says he’s open to expelling Cruz!
El Paso Times becomes 3rd major Texas paper to call for Cruz to resign. His actions contributed to “a violent uprising against the U.S. government... We call on law enforcement officials to thoroughly explore Cruz's role in inciting the insurrection.” elpasotimes.com/story/opinion/…
The El Paso Times demands that “Congress police its own and vote to expel Cruz.” If your Senator has not yet committed to voting to expel Hawley and Cruz, you can reach them through the Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121.
“An elected institution that opposes elections is inviting its own overthrow. Members of Congress who sustained the president’s lie... betrayed their constitutional mission. Making his fictions the basis of congressional action gave them flesh.” 2/9
“Post-truth is pre-fascism, and Trump has been our post-truth president... When political leaders such as Ted Cruz or Jim Jordan spoke like this, what they meant was: You believe my lies, which compels me to repeat them.” 3/9