Texas Supreme Court Sides with Abbott, Blocks Biden’s Tyrannical Mandates
Republican governor scores big victory in fight for Texans' freedoms
© press
The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily banned Democrat Joe Biden's federal government-imposed mandates across the state on Sunday, delivering a huge victory for Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
Gov. Abbott petitioned the court for a stay on lower court rulings that enabled school boards and local governments to reinstate tyrannical restrictions on public freedoms for their jurisdictions.
Abbott’s request was granted by the state Supreme Court, as justices ruled to temporarily ban local restrictive measures while the court works on a final ruling, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Last month, Abbott banned all restrictive health orders statewide, saying in a statement:
“The new Executive Order emphasizes that the path forward relies on personal responsibility rather than government mandates.
"Texans have mastered the safe practices that help to prevent and avoid the spread of COVID-19."
© press
Texans "have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they will wear masks, open their businesses, and engage in leisure activities," Abbott argued.
"Vaccines, which remain in abundant supply, are the most effective defense against the virus, and they will always remain voluntary – never forced – in the State of Texas.”
Abbott’s order banned Biden's health mandates and so-called “passports,” or requiring someone to carry and provide documentation to prove their medical status before being allowed to enter a building or participate in an activity.
The governor took action after a number of local governments and school boards began reinstating lockdown measures.
However, some local officials have pledged to continue restricting people's freedoms, despite the court’s ruling.
“The City of San Antonio and Bexar County’s response to the Texas Supreme Court continues to emphasize that the Governor cannot use his emergency powers to suspend laws that provide local entities the needed flexibility to act in an emergency,” San Antonio attorney Andy Segovia said in a statement.
“His suspension authority is meant to facilitate action, not prohibit it.”
Michael Hinojosa, superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District, told The New York Times: “Until there’s an official order of the court that applies to the Dallas Independent School District, we will continue to have the mask mandate.”
“We will comply when the court order applies to us,” he added.
© press
Abbott’s win in the Supreme Court comes off the heels of another favorable decision over Abbott’s veto of funding for the Texas legislature.
The governor defunded the legislature, effectively stripping lawmakers and staff of their salaries after a group of Texas Democrats fled the House chamber over proposed election reform.
Dozens of lawmakers walked out, denying the body the quorum necessary to pass legislation.
Abbott vetoed funding for the state legislature in June to withhold paychecks from Democratic lawmakers.
Abbott took action after Democrats stalled Republican-backed legislation by refusing to attend votes on the bills, breaking quorum, and blocking the Texas House from conducting business.
Soon after Abbott cut funding to the legislature, Democrats petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to intervene and overturn the governor’s veto of state funding.
The court denied the request, saying that the fight Democrats asked the court to resolve is not between two coequal branches of government, but within one branch, namely the legislature, and outside of the court’s purview.
