Abbott shares insight

LEWISVILLE - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott took aim at the Obama administration Thursday, saying overreaches on health care, the environment and other issues were killing jobs and threatening personal liberty.

Greg Abbott

Abbott, the state's chief law enforcement official, depicted himself as a warrior against an increasingly burdensome federal government during a speech to the Denton County Republican Party that was repeatedly interrupted by applause. Abbott said he had sued the federal government 20 times in two years because Washington kept "treading on state sovereignty."

Texas is among the states suing the federal government over President Obama's health care law, which was a target of attacks throughout the GOP event at the MCL Grand Theater. The legal challenge is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, where oral arguments are scheduled in March.

Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett, speaking before Abbott, praised the attorney general for leading the fight against "Obamacare." Willett said a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the law would destroy the notion of limited federal powers.

"Government will have carte blanche to control every sphere of your everyday life," Willett said.

Abbott argued that the law is unconstitutional because the government can't compel Americans to buy health insurance.

He predicted that the Supreme Court would overturn the law before the next president is sworn in, earning applause and hoots from the crowd.

Abbott's speech touched on other hot-button issues, including the state's new voter ID and sonogram laws and the ongoing redistricting fight.

The state's congressional and legislative maps are in limbo because of a legal battle over minority representation. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Jan. 9, and a trial to determine whether the maps violate the Voting Rights Act started Tuesday before a three-judge panel in Washington. Closing arguments in that case are scheduled for Feb. 3.

Abbott said the Supreme Court probably needs to issue a decision by the end of this month for Texas to keep its current primary date of April 3. The date was already delayed once from March 6 because of the redistricting fight.

Texas is subject to the federal Voting Rights Act, meaning redistricting attempts need "preclearance," or approval from the U.S. Justice Department or a federal court.

The Legislature passed new redistricting maps after the 2010 census, but a federal court in Washington refused to approve them without a trial.

At Abbott's request, the U.S. Supreme Court in December blocked "interim" maps drawn by federal judges in San Antonio so it could review the case.

The state is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the interim maps and reinstate the ones drawn by the Legislature until the preclearance process is complete. Abbott has called the court-drawn interim maps "judicial activism at its worst," arguing that no court found the state's maps to be unlawful.

"We will keep fighting until we make sure it is your voice, as represented by your state legislators, that is heard," he said.

A federal appeals court this month upheld a new state law requiring women to undergo a sonogram before getting an abortion. The decision reversed a lower court ruling that struck down several parts of the law, saying they were unconstitutionally vague and violated the First Amendment.

Abbott said Thursday the law would ensure women were fully informed before making a life-changing decision.

Abbott served as a state district judge and Texas Supreme Court justice before being elected attorney general in 2002. In November 2010, he beat Democrat Barbara Ann Radnofsky to win a third term.

Abbott ended last year with more than $12 million in his campaign war chest, the Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday. Abbott has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in 2014, but he brushed off the question in an interview Thursday.

"Challenging Obamacare, the EPA and other regulations, that's a full-time job," Abbott said. "I'll have to worry about the political equation later."

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com.