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Texas (WBAP/KLIF) – Reaction to Governor Greg Abbott‘s announcement was swift from some of the state’s largest urban areas.
Fellow Republican, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price called Abbott’s order “premature” and asked him to allow more people to get the vaccine if they want one.
A written statement reads: “I am calling on Gov. Abbott to open up additional vaccine tier categories so that more people are eligible to get a vaccine if they want one,” Price said in a statement. “As the state’s directive has changed, so must our response. Now, more than ever, vaccines and testing must be readily available.”
In Bexar County, Judge Nelson Wolff, a Democrat said, “I’m very disappointed, it’s an irresponsible action.” Wolff noted that the county still had 464 people in the hospital and 199 in icu as of Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, Texas’ largest teachers’ union has issued a statement in response to the governor’s new order.
The Texas State Teachers Association is urging Abbott to keep the mask mandate in effect, saying, in part “Texans want to see all their public schools reopened, but they want to see them reopened safely.”
TSTA President Ovidia Molina said, “It is too soon to let our guard down. we believe we are making progress against the covid-19 pandemic, but we are not there yet. far from it.”
McKinney Mayor George Fuller says that given the falling COVID-19 stats around the state, he was not surprised by Governor Abbott’s order, but suggests that rescinding the mask order could backfire.
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That said, fuller says he glad that businesses can fully reopen.
And amid continued rumblings that he may launch a challenge to Governor Abbott, former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke tweeted Tuesday the Abbott’s actions (or perceived inaction) is “killing Texas”
A death warrant for Texans.
Add them to the 44,000+ killed as he failed to confront the pandemic & botched the vaccine rollout.
And those who froze to death because he cares more about energy companies’ profits than keeping Texans alive.
Abbott is killing the people of Texas. https://t.co/2idUcqSjJT
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) March 2, 2021
O’Rourke has not formally announced a run for governor, though he has been traveling the state, talking to residents and holding small public events.
Abbott is up for re-election in 2022.
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