Critics are making fun of Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) for tackling a winter storm that ripped through the state this week, cutting off and counting power and heating for millions over three days during a record-breaking cold snap.
In a statement Tuesday, Abbott blamed the Texas Electric Reliability Council for not being well prepared for the storm and promised reforms.
“The Texas Electric Reliability Council has been anything but reliable for the past 48 hours,” said Abbott. Far too many Texans lack power and heat for their homes, as our state faces freezing temperatures and harsh winter weather. This is unacceptable.
But it was Abbott’s comments during a Fox News interview earlier this week that sparked the ire of the governor’s harshest critics.
“This shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States of America,” Abbott said during his performance at Sean Hannity
Sean Patrick Hannity Trump Mom As Senate Debates His Role In Inciting Capitol Mafia Laura Ingraham Rips Trump Impeachment Attorney: ‘It Was Terrible’ Trump Attorney Says He ‘Will Do Better’ After GOP MORE Criticism‘s program. “It just goes to show that fossil fuel is needed by the state of Texas and other states to ensure that we can heat our homes in the winter and cool our homes in the summer.”
“So many Texans are in desperate circumstances with no heat, water, and little relief,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lawmakers’ tweets mocking California power outages resurface amid winter storm (DN.Y.), the most outspoken advocate of the Green New Deal in Congress, responded on Twitter. “Gov. Abbott should get off the TV with pointing fingers and start helping people. Then he should read a book on his own state’s energy supply. I’ll prepare TX emails if he needs help.”
Other critics expressed similar thoughts about Abbott’s stance on energy infrastructure during the statewide crisis.
So many Texans are in desperate circumstances with no heat, water, and little relief.
Gov. Abbott needs to get off the pointing fingers of the TV and start helping people.
Then he has to read a book about the energy supply of his own state. I will prepare TX emails if he needs help.
– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 17, 2021
Sorry but this is totally psychotic. There’s an emergency in Texas * right now * and he’s plunging into the Green New Deal with complete lies about the root of the problem. https://t.co/PNzzr6juAR
– Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 17, 2021
State leaders cannot say they did not see this coming. Energy experts and State House Dems, among others, have been warning this for years. Abbott chose to ignore the facts, the science, and the tough 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 Finds Higher Approval Rating In Texas Than Gov. Abbott Progressive Group Poll Finds Trump Underwater In Texas After Riot MORE (@BetoORourke) February 17, 2021
You can always count on it @GregAbbott_TX to pass the buck if it fails. pic.twitter.com/HwPSnzJr75
– Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) February 17, 2021
Texas needs a new governor in 2022. #AbbottFailedTexas
– Adrienne Bell (@AdrBell) February 16, 2021
Former Democratic Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke said Tuesday night that the Lone Star State borders a “failed state” led by Abbott, and knocked the Republican out for focusing too much on cultural issues.
“The energy capital of North America cannot provide enough energy to heat and power people’s homes,” said O’Rourke. “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 of trust who have abandoned us.”
With millions still without power and rushing to get vulnerable residents to heating centers or find running water, Texas utility Austin Energy said Wednesday some customers can expect to be without power for up to a week.