State Capitol Highlights

Governor meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu

Gov. Greg Abbott on Jan. 18 met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a business development tour in Israel.

Abbott said in a news release that the meeting was “to discuss Texas and Israel’s historic bond” and how he can further solidify their relationship. 

Abbott informed Netanyahu that Texas would “maintain its Iran divestiture policy” and that he would “seek new laws to strengthen Texas' prohibitions on the investment of public funds in Iran.”

Abbott said the legislation he plans to promote would:

- Require local governmental entities to divest investments in Iran;

- Require all Texas state entities that invest money to divest Iran investments, not just Texas' various retirement funds; and

- Close loopholes in Texas’ Iran divestment law after examining them to determine where and how any exceptions can be minimized or eliminated altogether.

Abbott reminded readers that in September 2015, he sent a letter to the Texas congressional delegation stating his opposition President Obama’s Iran nuclear deal.  On July 14, 2015, the president signed what the White House called “a comprehensive, long-term deal that will verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

Court to review Texas case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 19 announced it would review an immigration case that originated in Brownsville.

Styled now as United States v. Texas, the case challenges the Obama administration’s November 2014 executive order affecting the deportation policy for undocumented immigrants. The case is scheduled be argued before the court in April, with a decision expected in June.

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