Christian Greg Abbott was sworn into the governorship in Texas.

Texas Swears in Christian Governor Who Pledges to Battle Obama

Share:

Republican Greg Abbott was sworn in as the new governor of Texas on Tuesday, pledging to fight the Obama administration over border security and grow the state’s $1.4 trillion a year economy. 

But as he takes office in the state that is the country’s largest oil and gas producer, the Texas comptrollers’ office has warned of a steep drop in revenue in energy production taxes and fees, an item Abbott did not mention in his inaugural address. 

“We must do more for the millions of Texans who are tired of seeing our state sovereignty and the rule of law ignored by a federal government that refuses to secure our border,” he said. 

Abbott, 57, a devout Christian who has served more than a decade as the Texas attorney general, is taking over from Rick Perry. Perry is the longest-serving governor in Texas history and considered a Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential election. 

“Almost by definition, the governor of Texas is going to be a national actor, particularly if that person is a Republican,” said Mark Jones, chair of the political science department at Rice University. 

Texas, the most populous state controlled by Republicans, is seen as an incubator of conservative policies often copied by other Republican stronghold states. 

Abbott has led a coalition of about two dozen states turning to a federal court in an attempt to block the Obama administration’s executive order to reduce the threat of deportation for millions of undocumented immigrants. 

But as he takes office, a Federal Reserve economist this month said the Texas economy and job growth are likely to slow this year due to falling oil prices. 

Perry has tried to build national political support by touting Texas job growth, saying that between December 2007 and today, the state had created 1.4 million jobs while the rest of the country had lost 400,000. 

Abbott offered few details on his plans to make the state’s economy grow. 

He is seen by many Texans as less charismatic and more measured than Perry. Abbott has spent most of his adult life in a wheelchair after being struck by a falling tree while jogging about 30 years ago, which left him unable to walk. 

Abbott said the incident has made him stronger. 

“Texas is the place where the improbable becomes the possible,” he said.

© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.

Share:

Leave a Reply


More Spiritual Content
Spirit-filled Believers Can Lead the Way After Trump Win
Kamala Harris Concedes Election, Stresses Peaceful Transfer of Power
Donald Trump: ‘God Spared My Life for a Reason’
‘Unbelievable Revival’: God Is Moving in Power Around the World
Faith Leaders Congratulate Trump on Victory
Dr. Malachi O’Brien at Trump Victory Party: ‘We’re Living in Biblical Times’
Chris Reed’s Prophetic Dream Fulfilled: Trump’s Win and a ‘New Republic’
Trump Victory Party Erupts in Praise and Worship Session
World Leaders Respond to Donald Trump’s Election Triumph
77 Days to Take Back America: Igniting a Final Great Awakening
previous arrow
next arrow
Shadow

Most Popular Posts

Latest Videos
74.2K Subscribers
969 Videos
7.2M Views
Share