Download Examining Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Response to COVID-19 and more Essays (university) Political Theory in PDF only on Docsity! Last name: 1 Student’s Name Instructor Course Title Due Date COVID 19 and Politics The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, had issued a mandate to Texas residents to wear masks in public and used executive power to lift other state laws to assist businesses struggling due to the pandemic. This was such as allowing restaurants to sell mixed drinks and groceries. The Texas House arranged preliminary endorsement to a bill that would restraint governor Greg Abbott's powers in the course of future endemics and demanded the executive branch to involve the legislature if another pandemic arises (McGee). The majority of state lawmakers claimed that the legislature should be the branch of government that makes choices that affect the livelihood of Texans and their businesses. But, besides the added constraints on the governor, the proposal also required amendments to reduce the ability of local officials to give their orders. Throughout the pandemic, Democrat-controlled cities in Texas frequently clashed with Gov. Greg Abbott, a republican, about who had the authority to enact constraints like mask mandates. The lower chamber controlled by republicans passed House Bill and waits for another vote before it goes to the Senate, which has not yet passed its own restrictions to bound the governor's emergency powers. Progress on the bill continues as lawmakers from both sides criticize the governor for declining to call an exceptional session to handle the Covid19 pandemic. In fact, Texas was among the three states that stayed for ten months without summoning one to address the crisis (Pollock). Democrats have criticized Gov. Greg Abbott for acting reluctantly to enforce a mask order throughout the state and shut down municipalities. Last name: 2 Officials from the governor's party prosecuted him for extending prompt voting and blasted him for hesitating to reopen businesses. Considering that the Coronavirus was new and most people, including the leaders, did not understand its severity, Gov. Greg Abbott being hesitant to address the crisis is justifiable. The pandemic was rocking the world dramatically and radically. Therefore, the first place the governor could have made an appointment is to the emergency preparedness body and not to the legislature; those could wait. Again, the Covid19 timeline and impact differed by population and geography, and so, this unprecedented time required local and state government leaders not to wait for higher bodies to respond. After a time, the governor took aggressive action to reduce the spread of the virus, demanding all people in Texas to wear masks while in public. Regardless if a person is a democrat or republican, the pandemic required unity from both sides to curb its effect and not politicize the matter. The governor did not have to do what other governors were doing; he tailored the response of the pandemic to the special needs of the people of his state. Delaying to address the matter gave him much time to reflect on it and decide the best measures to enact. It was perfect for allowing some businesses like restaurants to continue running as they sold groceries to people. There are many executive orders and state laws that give the governor broad powers in an emergency. These muscles stem from the governor's actual charge, set in the state constitution, to loyally implement the state's laws. Businesses and citizens turn to governors for recovery and response during natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, mass shooting, flooding, and pandemics as the one the world is experiencing now.
