Critics slam Texas government Greg Abbott (R) over his handling of a winter storm that tore through the state this week, shutting down power and heat to millions for more than three days and counting during a record-breaking moment has.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Abbott blamed the Texas Electric Reliability Council for not being properly prepared for the storm and promised reform.
“The Texas Electric Reliability Board has been anything but reliable for the past 48 hours,” Abbott said. “Far too many Texans are without power and heat for their homes because our state is facing icy temperatures and severe winter weather. That is unacceptable.”
But it was Abbott’s comments during a Fox News interview earlier this week that angered the governor’s fiercest critics.
“It shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States,” Abbott said as he Sean Hannity
Sean Patrick Hannity trumps mother as Senate shuts up role in inciting Capitol mobster Laura Ingraham snatches Trump’s indictment: ‘It was terrible’ Trump’s lawyer says he will ‘do better’ after criticism of GOP MOREsee program. “It just shows that fossil fuels are needed for the state of Texas as well as other states to make sure we can heat our homes in the winter and cool our homes in the summer.”
“So many Texans are in desperate circumstances without heat, water and little relief,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez The tweets from Texas lawmakers mocking California’s power outages resurface amid the winter storm. (DN.Y.), the biggest advocate of the Green New Deal in Congress, responded on Twitter. “The Abbott government needs to show off the TV and start fingering and helping people. After that, he needs to read a book on the energy supply of his own state. I will submit TX emails if he needs help.”
Other critics have expressed similar views on Abbott’s stance on energy infrastructure during the nationwide crisis.
So many Texans are in desperate circumstances without heat, water and little relief.
Government Abbott needs to show off TV and start fingers and help people.
Then he has to read a book about the energy supply of his own state. I will set up TX emails if he needs help.
– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) 17 February 2021
Sorry, but this is completely psychotic. There is currently an emergency in Texas * and he is lying on the Green New Deal with complete lies about the source of the problem. https://t.co/PNzzr6juAR
– Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) 17 February 2021
State leaders cannot say they do not see it coming. Energy experts and State House Dems, among others, have been warning about this for years. Abbott chose to ignore the facts, the science, and the difficult decisions, and now Texans will pay the price again. 4/4
– Beto O’Rourke
Beto O’Rourke Willie Nelson says there’s always a new politician who hates Poll: Biden gets higher approval in Texas than Abbott Progressive group poll, Trump finds underwater in Texas after riot MORE (@BetoORourke) 17 February 2021
You can always rely on @GregAbbott_TX to pass the goat if he fails. pic.twitter.com/HwPSnzJr75
– Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) 17 February 2021
Texas needs a new governor in 2022. # AbbottFailedTexas
– Adrienne Bell (@AdrBell) 16 February 2021
Former Texas Democratic congressman Beto O’Rourke said Tuesday night that the Lone Star State borders on a “failed state” under Abbott’s leadership, beating the Republican for focusing too heavily on cultural issues.
“The energy capital of North America cannot provide enough energy to heat people’s homes,” O’Rourke said. “We are approaching a failed state in Texas. And it has nothing to do with God or natural disasters. It has everything to do with those in public positions who have let us down.”
While millions of people are still without power, trying to get vulnerable residents to hotspots or finding running water, Austin Energy, Texas, said some customers could be without power for up to a week.