Update: Abbott unveils more details to gradually loosen COVID-19 restrictions. Will not issue new shelter order. Details at gov.texas.gov/opentexas
Texas officials may be gearing up for budget cuts of up to 20% per department and state Senate COVID-19 recovery working groups have been appointed as Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to release further re-opening details this afternoon.
Abbott scheduled a press conference for 2 p.m. to lay out further details on how state government will allow loosening coronavirus/COVID-19 restrictions including hospital operations parameters, as he previously announced for this date.
Abbott previously said a third round of openings would be announced in May when it has been determined that the transmission rate has continued to decline. More recently, on Friday, non-essential retail stores were allowed to begin offering pick-up, to-go, and curbside sales.
According to several sources, Abbott said in anticipation of the 2021 Legislature’s budget crafting cycle he would be asking for state agencies and departments to identify 20% of expenses to cut. But according to Texas politics blog Quorum Report, it is unclear how much Abbott would ask for, but made it quite clear that today (Monday) will be the day of many details for further re-opening.
By contrast, Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, though on his way out of office, suggested 5% cuts and appointed a Democrat on the left wing of her party to the powerful Legislative Budget Board.
Over the previous week, Abbott announced the unveiling of a COVID-19 test sites map, the availability of housing assistance funds, training for local governments on how to best distribute federal assistance dollars, and $54 million in federal dollars to support older persons and the disabled.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appointed the members of the Texas Senate to various “think tank” style working groups to address COVID-19.
“As with all Senate work groups, the purpose of these work groups is to discuss challenges and options, not to craft legislation,” Patrick noted in a press release. “Every senator is participating, and I am in regular contact with them on these discussions and I will continue to discuss these issues with them as we move forward.” See the list below.
From the hip: Though states like Georgia are further ahead on the re-opening timeline, Texas is the No. 2 most populous state and the stakes are much higher for any miscalculations. Gov. Abbott is, and always has been, a careful decision-maker. While those hungry for an immediate relaxing of coronavirus restrictions have accused him of dithering, there appears to be a lot going on behind the scenes.
As one example, and according to Quorum Report, Abbott is seeking guidance from the U.S. Treasury on how $11.2 billion in CARES Act funding can be spent without any “clawbacks” (i.e. money demanded to be paid back, which could be a nightmare for state budget-makers). And there’s also the matter of keeping peace with the Trump Administration, which is no small task, even for Georgia.
Ever cautions, Abbott keeps his cards close. We can only wonder what today’s presser will reveal. For those keeping score at home, the members of the Senate working groups are:
Economic Impact & Budgeting Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown
Senate Pandemic Preparedness Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston
Public Schools & Higher Ed Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Burleson
Health, Hospitals & COVID-19 Issues Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston
Jobs & Re-Opening the Economy Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock
Food Supply Chain, Food Banks & Agriculture Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood Sen. Peter Flores, R-Pleasanton Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville