Texas governor makes 'sanctuary cities' priority
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is telling lawmakers to get to work on better funding the state's beleaguered child welfare system and banning so-called "sanctuary cities."
Abbott on Tuesday used his second State of the State address to echo President Donald Trump's executive actions that would withhold taxpayer funding to local governments that don't comply with federal immigration agents. But Abbott wasn't specific about what a Texas anti-sanctuary law should look like.
Texas' child welfare crisis has resulted in rising deaths and hundreds of allegedly abused or mistreated children going unseen by state investigators. The problem has worsened despite Abbott ordering an overhaul last year.
Abbott is also calling for a review of the state's school finance system that the Texas Supreme Court ruled was only barely constitutional last summer. Abbott also called for school vouchers, an effort that has stalled repeatedly in Texas Legislature despite steadfast support from top conservatives.