Chairman Hinojosa and Janet Dudding Release Statements on Abbott and Hegar Threatening the Well-being of Harris County Residents

AUSTIN, Texas -- Today, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa and Texas Democratic Comptroller Nominee Janet Dudding released the following statements on Governor Greg Abbott and Comptroller Glenn Hegar threatening the livelihoods and well-being of the nearly 5 million Texans living in Harris County over a budgetary dispute:

Chairman Hinojosa: 

“First of all, let’s make one thing clear: Harris County is in no way ‘defunding’ law enforcement. Quite the opposite, in fact: as the Houston Chronicle states, Harris County’s ‘proposed budget includes a 13 percent increase to the constables budget’ from 2020.

“Now, let’s call this charade out for what it is: Republican leaders – like Abbott and Hegar – are using fuzzy math to lie about the Harris County budget, hoping to use the nearly five million residents of Texas’s largest county as political pawns in their asinine culture war of the day.

“It’s sad that Abbott and Hegar will likely achieve what they set out to with this gimmick: news headlines that contain both the phrases ‘Harris County’ and ‘defunding the police,’ that they can then quickly turn and use in political ads ahead of this fall’s midterm elections. It’s even more sad that they’re targeting the budget of the state’s largest county – taxpayer dollars used for resources that millions of Texans require – in order to accomplish their political stunt.

“Perhaps the most disappointing, though, is that Abbott and Hegar are no doubt targeting Harris County because – being one of the most Democratic (and diverse) counties in the state – they feel like it won’t make a difference with their voting base if Harris County’s budget gets tied up. To them, the day-to-day livelihoods of Houstonians is a small price to pay for a good, far-right outrage-inducing Tucker Carlson segment.

“Anything for a headline – no matter the cost to millions of their own constituents.”

Janet Dudding:

“Greg Abbott and Glenn Hegar are wasting resources – and jeopardizing Harris County’s investments in flood mitigation, public health, and safety by trying to freeze county revenue.

“This is political theater at its worst and demonstrates an underlying incompetence. Harris County’s policy is to lapse appropriations. This is a normal practice for governmental budgeting. Whatever happened to ‘local control?’

“Confidence in Abbott’s leadership is failing with the unreliable power grid, extreme abortion bans and bounties, and inaction on gun safety. Hegar is famous for authoring the bill Wendy Davis filibustered. Abbott and Hegar are feeling the campaign season political heat and are desperate to divert attention.

“The fallout from Abbott’s political game can seriously jeopardize the lives and safety of Harris County residents – as well as the livelihoods of the public servants and law enforcement officials that get up every day to serve our community. This unprecedented political maneuver is just a sad attempt from Republicans to get in the news and take heat off their constant, consistent failures. But these Republicans will see: this is a huge overstep. Texas voters will not be distracted or deceived.”

Background Information:

In 2021, Harris County constable budgets totaled more than the counties of Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, and El Paso combined. Constables had so much money they had a surplus of $3 million.

Abbott and Hegar claim that constables should hold onto any funds they don’t spend forever – a practice that even the state does not follow.

The Democratic majority on the Harris County Commissioners Court allocated money to Harris County constables. It surged resources for law enforcement and increased money in the next budget. It continues to innovate and implement public safety strategies that get guns off the streets, stop violent offenders, and bring justice to our communities.

And, as the Houston Chronicle reports, “Paradoxically, by preventing Harris County from adopting the new tax rate, Hegar's actions would prevent the county from implementing $96.7 million in increases to the sheriff and constable offices, and a proposed $10 million increase to the District Attorney's Office.”