Austin, TX (WBAP/KLIF) – Texas Lt.Gov. Dan Patrick says he thinks the party’s decision to proceed with a live convention is “unwise,” but he plans to be there.
“I watched all three hours of the SREC debate on Thursday night,” Patrick said in his statement. “I agree with the 20 people who believe it is not a good idea to hold an in-person state convention in Houston because so many of our party activists will be unable to attend. It also risks the exposure of those who do attend. But I respect the will of the 40 people who voted (for holding the live convention) and I will be there.”
In a written statement Patrick said in part that he respects the 40-of-60 state party leaders who voted to holding a live event; even as he acknowledged the Texas Medical Association‘s warning against it.
According to the TMA, such an event would “pose significant health risks to the city of houston and the communities across Texas to which the delegates will return.”
The Statesman reports that the TMA has withdrawn its sponsorship of the event, but announced it is “pleased that the Republican Party of Texas will comply with Governor Abbott’s directive and require face masks at its state convention later this month in Houston.”
The statement continued:
“While face masks certainly will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (the disease linked to the coronavirus) in and around the convention, masks alone are not enough,” she said in a written statement.
“With or without masks, an indoor gathering of thousands of people from all around the state in a city with tens of thousands of active COVID-19 cases poses a significant health risk to convention-goers, convention workers, health care workers, and the residents of Houston,” Fite wrote. “We are concerned not only for the city of Houston but also for the communities to which the delegates will return, giving the virus easy transportation to parts of Texas that have far fewer cases.”
Meantime, even though Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said he would attend, in his statement said that he agreed with the 20 Republican Party of Texas members who voted against a live convention.
It’s presumed that Governor Greg Abbott will be in attendance as well.
(Copyright 2020 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from the The Statesman)