#OpenTexas David Covey @GAWTP Letter to Governor Abbott
May 01 2020
30 mins
The Honorable Greg AbbottGovernor of the State of TexasP.O. Box 12428Austin, Texas 78711April 17, 2020Dear Governor Abbott:The Chinese Coronavirus pandemic and the government-ordered responses to it aredevastating the Texas economy and imposing untold harm on Texas families. The additionalburden of the Russia-Saudi Arabia oil fight has compounded the economic drag.Thankfully, infections, hospitalizations, and even deaths have fallen far short of the worst-casescenarios some had projected. The virus appears to be on the decline worldwide and especiallyin Texas very soon – if not already.Texas should enact a clearly communicated and citizen-driven plan to prudently and carefullyreturn Texans to work, to church, and possibly back to school.State Reps. Matt Krause and Mike Lang sent excellent recommendations, presenting strongsuggestions on how to move the economy again and stand Texans back on their feet. Thoserecommendations include removing the distinction between “essential” and “non-essential”businesses; allowing restaurants, gyms, salons, and other businesses to reopen provided theytake commonsense measures to maintain social distancing; and, continuing to waiveregulations already waived for an extended and defined period.Both sets of suggestions are strong on “recommendations” and short on mandates. That is as itshould be; trust your fellow Texans to self-govern. Lang and Krause offer a roadmap which, ifcorrectly implemented, would do much to assist hardworking Texans in restoring normalcy andour state’s economy.A number of other ideas should be prudently reviewed and considered. For example, westrongly encourage you to re-open the state’s parks. Similarly, please force local entities to liftthe onerous restrictions they have foisted on Texans and curtail their ability to impose others.Few are expecting or proposing an immediate lifting of all restrictions and recommendationsimposed by the state as we seek to recover from this pandemic, but every restrictive order thatremains must be justified with facts and accompanied by clearly communicated standardsand timelines for its lifting.The people of Texas are strong and resilient. They have shown – both in this crisis and in everyprevious crisis – that they are willing to sacrifice for their neighbors in times of need.2They deserve the kind of leadership from their state officials that workswith them to chart a course to recovery and an end to this diminishedstatus quo.Governor Abbott, Texans are once again looking to you to lead.For a strong, free, and prosperous Texas, *Daniel A. Greer, Executive Director, Direct Action TexasRoss Kecseg, President, Empower TexansJoAnn Fleming, Executive Director, Grassroots America – We the PeopleRachel Malone, Texas Director, Gun Owners of AmericaTeresa Beckmeyer, Public Policy Director, Saulsbury FamilyTim Lambert, President, Texas Home School CoalitionJames J. Graham, President, Texas Right to LifeJulie McCarty, CEO, True Texas ProjectThe Honorable Matt Rinaldi, former State Representative, District 115Farris and Jo Ann Wilks, Cisco HD 60, SD 28, CD 11LTC Allen West (USA, Ret), candidate for Chairman, Republican Party ofTexas; former Member 112th US Congress, Ft Lauderdale Tea Party, SD 2Cathie Adams, 1st VP, Eagle Forum, Former Chair Republican Party ofTexas, SD 8Mark Meckler, President, Convention of States Action, SD 14Manfred Wendt, Executive Director, Young Conservatives of Texas, SD 10Cindi Castilla, President, Texas Eagle Forum, SD 16Carol Adams, Precinct Chair, Denton County Republican Party, SD 12MaryAnne Aiken, Board Member, Grassroots America, SD 1Sharron Albertson, Texas...