Texas Gov. Abbot Looks to “Defund Cities that Defund the Police”

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Texas Governor Greg Abbot (R) proposed legislation yesterday that would “defund cities that defund their police.” He also signed a pledge backing the blue during a press conference at the headquarters of the Austin Police Association, and urged all Texans and all candidates for office to sign as well.

Abbott’s legislation would “forever” remove a city’s ability to annex territory if they voted to defund their police departments. It would also allow residents of areas that have ever been annexed by a city that has defunded their police to vote to be disannexed from that city.

Abbott has also previously proposed a policy that would freeze property taxes for cities that defund their police.

Taken together, the proposals would make it “financially impossible” for cities to defund their police departments, Abbott said.

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