Governor Abbott Vetoes Senate Bill 1408 (84R)

June 20, 2015 | Austin, Texas

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 14, of the Texas Constitution, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove of and veto Senate Bill No. 1408 as passed by the Eighty-Fourth Texas Legislature, Regular Session, because of the following objections:

Senate Bill 1408 creates new authorities to issue state funds to local units of governments similar to, and in some cases identical to, grants already made under the federal Community Development Block Grant program. The stated intent of the new programs is to offset reductions in federal funding with new state funding. Our federal government’s addiction to spending Texas taxpayer dollars must be brought under control, and when it is, the State of Texas should not find ways to tax our citizens to continue funding services our federal elected officials have deemed worthy of curtailing.

Since the Eighty-Fourth Texas Legislature, Regular Session, by its adjournment has prevented the return of this bill, I am filing these objections in the office of the Secretary of State and giving notice thereof by this public proclamation according to the aforementioned constitutional provision.

 

GREG ABBOTT
Governor

View a PDF of the veto here