TX AG Weekly Update: Supreme Court DACA Argument, Opinion Request On Public Comment Clarification, Celebrating Veterans

Staff Report

Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton is the lawyer for the State of Texas and is charged by the Texas Constitution to:

• defend the laws and the Constitution of the State of Texas
• represent the State in litigation
• approve public bond issues

To fulfill these responsibilities, the Office of the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issues legal opinions when requested by the Governor, heads of state agencies and other officials and agencies as provided by Texas statutes.

The Texas AG sits as an ex-officio member of state committees and commissions, and defends challenges to state laws and suits against both state agencies and individual employees of the State.

Many Texans look to the Office of the Attorney General for guidance with disputes and legal issues. The agency receives hundreds of letters, phone calls and visits each week about crime victims’ compensation, child support, abuse in nursing homes, possible consumer fraud and other topics. To find out more about the Texas Attorney General, visit the official website at https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/.

AG Paxton Statement on DACA Supreme Court Argument

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton gave this statement on today’s United States Supreme Court argument on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

“This case is about the rule of law. Congress has the sole authority to write immigration laws, and it has repeatedly rejected attempts to enact the polices embodied in DACA and DAPA; however, in a lawless exercise of executive power, the Obama administration attempted to bypass our elected representatives and put those policies in place by executive action,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The president’s duty is to ensure that the law is faithfully executed, not to re-write laws with which he disagrees. We hope the Supreme Court will recognize the necessity of the Trump administration’s decision to rescind this unlawful program.”

In August, Attorney General Paxton led a 13-state coalition in an amicus brief filed with the United States Supreme Court supporting the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the DACA program.

When created via executive memo in 2014, DACA unilaterally granted lawful presence and access to work permits to over 1.7 million unlawfully-present aliens in defiance of laws enacted by Congress.

Request for Opinion

Official Request RQ-0313-KP
Authority of a political subdivision to regulate public comment sessions during open meetings under Government Code section 551.007

Received Date
Friday, November 8, 2019

Official Requestor
The Honorable Deborah Earley
Blanco County Attorney
Post Office Box 471
Johnson City, Texas 78636

Texas Office Of The Attorney General Celebrates
Veterans in Special Ceremony Honoring Their Service

AUSTIN – Just before Monday’s celebration of Veterans Day and in the midst of the national recognition and support of veterans through the month of November, military veterans employed with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) were honored during a special ceremony and celebration of their service.

The OAG employs approximately 300 veterans who represent all branches of the U.S. Military, and spouses and children of service members. Several veterans employed with the OAG are recipients of the Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

“Veterans day is an opportunity to take a moment and recognize so many men, so many women, so many unknown warriors who have sacrificed and selflessly served to protect us and defend freedom.” Said First Assistant Attorney General Jeff Mateer. “I encourage you to take a few minutes, find out about their stories and then, I encourage you to thank them.”

Stormy Kelly, a 29-year veteran of Texas law enforcement and the Director of the OAG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, provided a speech at the event. Prior to her career in law enforcement, Chief Kelly served in the United States Navy for seven years in Texas, California and Atsugi, Japan, and was a Petty Officer 2^nd Class Air Traffic Controller.

Attorney General Ken Paxton has made hiring veterans among his top priorities. Currently, veterans comprise more than seven percent of the OAG’s total workforce.