Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has issued 76 vetoes, following through on a threat against the Texas Senate over a property tax dispute.
On Sunday alone, the Texas governor issued 30 vetoes. Many of the bills were those he was in line with but vetoed in order to express his disapproval of the state Senate, which has butted heads with the governor over property tax reform. The veto count is the second highest in the state's history, according to the Texas Tribune.
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The Texas governor requested the state legislature focus exclusively on compression, a method in which the state sends funds to school districts to lower their property tax rates, the Texas Tribune reported. While the state House obliged, the Senate refused and asked for an increase in the homestead exception, which exempts a portion of a home's appraised value from property taxes.
In multiple written proclamations, Abbott made it clear that his vetoes were due to the property tax dispute.
"At this time, the legislature must concentrate on delivering property tax cuts to Texans," he wrote.
Many state senators expressed outrage over the vetoes, labeling the move a political stunt.
"These random acts of political retribution have real consequences for real Texans who could have benefited from the opportunity to complete their academic journey and be a part of the #TexasMiracle. Governing is not a game," state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D) wrote on Twitter.
"It is a responsibility to serve every Texan. I am mystified over who is served by these vetoes. I pledge to keep serving as best I can in these circumstances."
It is a responsibility to serve every Texan. I am mystified over who is served by these vetoes. I pledge to keep serving as best I can in these circumstances.
— Senator Sarah Eckhardt (@sarah_eckhardt) June 18, 2023
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The move will also further inflame tensions with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has publicly clashed with the governor over the vetoes.
“This is targeted vetoing of bills that have nothing to do with the issue at hand except Paul Bettencourt is the author of those bills,” Patrick said Thursday. “It’s not a very good image to veto bills for no reason other than he didn’t get the property tax bill he wants.”