Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Don Huffines, a pro-life advocate and former state senator, as state comptroller. Huffines, who has been a vocal supporter of conservative principles, will oversee the public accounts and has pledged to use every legal option to work around the Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship decision.
Background
Huffines, a former state senator and Dallas-area real estate magnate, has long been a figure on the right flank of Texas politics. He unsuccessfully challenged Abbott for reelection in 2022, arguing that the governor was not sufficiently conservative. Despite their past differences, Abbott has now appointed Huffines to a key post, citing his business experience and conservative principles.
The office of comptroller has grown in importance, overseeing Abbott’s signature program of providing public money for private school education. Huffines has promised to run government lean and protect every tax dollar. He has also condemned the Supreme Court’s decision on birthright citizenship, saying that as comptroller, he would use every legal option to work around it.
Reaction
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, the Democrat running for comptroller, said the appointment would help her campaign by giving Texas voters a chance to see firsthand what Huffines would do in the office. She argued that Huffines’ promise to aggressively root out wasteful government spending would undermine the agency.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
