2022 TX Governor's race: on Health Care

Allen West: Protested Governor's pandemic-related business closures

Governor Greg Abbott's bid for a third term will be the marquee contest in two years, and Beto O'Rourke or Julian Castro were among the names most discussed as potential Democratic challengers. But Abbott could also face a credible primary opponent, and the new Texas GOP chairman, Allen West, has stoked speculation that he could step up with his striking splits with the governor on his coronavirus response.

Until recently, Abbott has enjoyed broad statewide popularity. His approval ratings dropped this summer and he faced backlash from a handful of hardline conservatives in his party amid his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Much of the speculation about an Abbott primary challenge has centered on West, who has not ruled it out while grabbing attention with moves like suing Abbott over his extension of this November's early voting period and protesting outside the Governor's Mansion over pandemic-related business closures. [West publicized a GOP resolution urging "Open Texas NOW."]

Source: Texas Tribune on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race Nov 23, 2020

Allen West: Opposed TX governor for COVID restrictions & accommodations

He took issue with Abbott's public health restrictions during a surge in coronavirus hospitalizations, decrying "the tyranny that we see in the great state of Texas." West joined with Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in unsuccessfully suing Abbott over his decision to add an extra week of early voting to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. West joined with Miller again at a rally outside Abbott's residence in Austin calling on him to "Free Texas Now" from COVID-19 restrictions. Source: Houston Chronicle on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race Jul 6, 2021

Deirdre Gilbert: Should not punish people for refusing to get vaccinated

Gilbert expressed skepticism about mandating the COVID-19 vaccine and shared concern that people refusing to get the shot may lose their jobs, which may in turn harm their mental health.

"We as a government can find those other options, that we can find legal remedies that are not so punitive," Gilbert said. When asked further about the COVID-19 vaccine, Gilbert would not share if she's vaccinated, saying that information is too private to divulge.

Source: KXAN on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race Dec 8, 2021

Deirdre Gilbert: Attention in healthcare laws for the least of us

In 1998, Gilbert's life changed with the birth of her daughter, Jocelyn, who was born with special needs. Gilbert was forced to leave her job to take care of her. Jocelyn died due to what Gilbert called "medical malpractice."

"After the death of my daughter, I started digging into court reform," she said. "Once I started getting into that, I started seeing some laws and bills and all kinds of things that were just not favorable for the least of us. My political leaders were just not interested or claimed they couldn't do anything."

Gilbert said that since she couldn't find anyone to speak up for her rights and the rights of others, she'd be the one to do it. So she partnered with nonprofits and other local activists to teach people about how to protect themselves from "discriminatory practices."

"Somebody [had] to start standing up, to start speaking out about the laws that were being passed that were not conducive to minorities specifically and then just the people," she said.

Source: Spectrum Local News on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race Nov 16, 2021

Don Huffines: COVID: opposed mask mandate; Texas reopened too slowly

He's been a vocal critic of Abbott's response to the coronavirus pandemic, blasting him for his statewide mask mandate and for not reopening Texas businesses quickly enough. Huffines spoke at an anti-lockdown "Free Texas" protest in front of the Governor's Mansion in October, and regularly calls the governor "King Abbott" in social media posts about Abbott's use of executive orders to put COVID rules in place. Source: Houston Press on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race May 11, 2021

Greg Abbott: Texas will hire fired unvaccinated Border Patrol officers

[On COVID vaccine mandates]: "If there is any Border Patrol officer who gets fired or has to quit, whatever the case may be, because of the vaccine mandate imposed by the Biden administration, Texas would be honored to have them come work for us. I have worked side by side with these Border Patrol officers for years now. I admire them. I respect them. They are courageous and they are needed and if The Biden administration doesn't want them. By God, the state of Texas does." Source: FOX News Radio on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race Sep 29, 2021

The above quotations are from 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Greg Abbott on Health Care.
*Candidates and political leaders on Health Care:*
*Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:* GA:Chambliss(R) IA:Harkin(D) MI:Levin(D) MT:Baucus(D) NE:Johanns(R) OK:Coburn(R) SD:Johnson(D) WV:Rockefeller(D) *Resigned from 113th House:* AL-1:Jo Bonner(R) FL-19:Trey Radel(R) LA-5:Rod Alexander(R) MA-5:Ed Markey(D) MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R) NC-12:Melvin Watt(D) SC-1:Tim Scott(R)	*Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:* AR-4:Tom Cotton(R) GA-1:Jack Kingston(R) GA-10:Paul Broun(R) GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R) HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D) IA-1:Bruce Braley(D) LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R) ME-2:Mike Michaud(D) MI-14:Gary Peters(D) MT-0:Steve Daines(R) OK-5:James Lankford(R) PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D) TX-36:Steve Stockman(R) WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)	*Retired House as of Jan. 2015:* AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R) AR-2:Tim Griffin(R) CA-11:George Miller(D) CA-25:Howard McKeon(R) CA-33:Henry Waxman(D) CA-45:John Campbell(R) IA-3:Tom Latham(R) MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R) NC-6:Howard Coble(R) NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D) NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R) NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D) NY-21:Bill Owens(D) PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R) UT-4:Jim Matheson(D) VA-8:Jim Moran(D) VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Mar 09, 2024