AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott held a roundtable discussion in Austin on Thursday with law enforcement and public safety advocates to discuss his legislative priorities to ensure a what he called “a safer future for the Lone Star State.”
The Governor and participants from across the state, including Fort Worth Police Association President Manny Ramirez, discussed the importance of supporting law enforcement and combatting efforts to defund the police.
“Here in Texas, we will never turn our back on our law enforcement officers,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas will always be a law-and-order state, and we must lead the way for the rest of the nation when it comes to supporting our police. The government’s number one responsibility is to keep its citizens safe, and we will not allow cities to recklessly defund the police and put innocent lives in danger.”
Abbott suggested the idea of taking away access to tax revenue for cities that choose to defund their Police departments.
The leaders and Governor Abbott also discussed bail reform.
“We must also act this session to reform a broken bail system that allows dangerous criminals to go free,” he said. “I applaud Senator Whitmire and Representatives Kacal and Murr for their leadership on this important issue. I look forward to working with my partners in the Legislature this session to build a safer future for the Lone Star State.”
The Governor noted that he is working with the Legislature this session to reform the bail system in Texas by expanding the criteria that judges must consider when setting bail and increasing the qualifications of judges who can set bail.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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