2 days Ago
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to withhold state funding after the San Marcos City Council agreed to put an Israel-Hamas ceasefire resolution to a vote next month. Abbott said the resolution would violate a Texas law that prohibits government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel.
On April 15, the city council approved moving forward with the resolution at its May 6 meeting. No vote has been made yet on the resolution. The agenda item called on the council to “hold a discussion regarding a possible resolution calling for the immediate and permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine, an arms embargo on Israel, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and the protection of constitutional rights for all people under national and international law.
” Councilmembers Alyssa Garza and Amanda Rodriguez were both sponsors for the resolution. Four councilmembers voted to bring the resolution back for a vote, while two voted against it, including Mayor Jane Hughson. In a letter to Hughson on Tuesday, Abbott called the resolution “antisemitic.
” “I have proudly signed legislation prohibiting government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel,” Abbott said. “That remains the law here.” In May 2017, Abbott signed House Bill 89 , the Anti-Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions Bill, into law.
It stops government agencies from doing business with contractors who boycott Israel. “The proposed resolution seems calculated to violate this law by calling for San Marcos to limit its commercial relations with Israel,” Abbott said. He said his office is reviewing active grants with San Marcos “to determine whether the city has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with Texas law.
” “If the city council adopts this resolution, the Office of the Governor will not enter into any future grant agreements with the city and will act swiftly to terminate active grants for non-compliance,” Abbott said. Last year, the Austin City Council also faced calls to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire, but Mayor Kirk Watson ultimately said the city would not take action. "The proposed resolution of the Austin City Council will not realistically end the violence on the other side of the globe," Watson said in February 2024 .
"Nor will it stop federal taxes from being used to implement U.S. foreign policy.
That is not in our power. The resolution, however has the power to divide Austin – and will.".
