Governor Greg Abbott was in Houston today, where he held a roundtable discussion with advocates for tougher bail standards and Texans whose loved ones were murdered by violent criminals out on no or low bond. The event was at Crime Stoppers of Houston, and it was followed by a news conference with Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Mankarious, bail reform advocates, families of victims, and local law enforcement officials.
Governor Abbott called on the Texas House to pass legislation on bail reform, including Senate Joint Resolution 5, which would amend the Texas Constitution to permit judges to deny bail to defendants accused of murder, aggravated kidnapping, robbery, or assault with a deadly weapon.
“Activist judges are protecting dangerous criminals instead of the innocent people they victimize,” said Governor Abbott. “Since 2019, in the greater Houston area alone, there are over 200 cases of dangerous criminals being let out on low-cash or no-cash bonds only for them to assault or kill another innocent Texan. This is not a right versus left issue. This is a public safety issue. Too many judges grant repeat offenders two, three, even 16 chances that they do not deserve. State Representatives must fix that by passing a constitutional amendment. Lawmakers must choose: support the safety of citizens they represent, or the criminals who kill them.”
But to get it done in the Texas House, 100 members must support the legislation, which means at least 12 Democrats would have to join Republicans in passing it. And according to reports out of Austin, after last week's vote and GOP win on school vouchers, the Democrats are reportedly set on taking revenge by blocking key joint resolution votes.
"This is the type of issue that people of both parties can come together, this is common sense" Abbott said, "You pass this bill, pass this constitutional amendment and lives will literally be saved. You fail to pass this, and more people are going to be murdered. This has to get done."
Abbott said recently that he and Democrat backed House Speaker Dustin Burrows are on the same page. We shall see.