Texas AG Files Lawsuit Over El Paso's COVID Shutdown as County Sees Over 1,000 Daily Cases

[TomCADem]

Source: Newsweek

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joined a coalition of El Paso businesses on Friday in suing Judge Ricardo Samaniego for ordering a two-week shutdown of the Texas county as coronavirus cases skyrocket.

"El Paso County Judge Samaniego has no authority to shut down businesses in El Paso County. This is a direct violation of Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order," Paxton said in a news release. "Recommendations must not be confused with requirements, especially those that unlawfully burden private citizens and businesses."

Samaniego said he ordered a shutdown of all non-essential businesses on Thursday as the positivity rate increased 160 percent and hospitalizations rose over 300 percent this month in El Paso County since the start of the pandemic. El Paso University Medical Center added an additional 100 beds to accommodate an overwhelming amount of patients, along with an outdoor tent. However, it has been reportedly sending patients to local children's hospitals and airlifting critically ill patients to other cities.

In a press conference, Samaniego defended his decision as a way to protect the community.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-ag-files-lawsuit-over-el-pasos-covid-shutdown-county-sees-over-1000-daily-cases-rising-1543768

[tanyev]

1. I've seen articles where right wingers complained about the national shutdown,

saying that it should be left up to local leaders based on local conditions. Fair point. But then local leaders who enact restrictions or shutdowns get all kinds of grief from Republican leaders.

[ancianita]

2. Wait. A judge cannot "directly violate" a governor's orders?

What the hell does that even mean.

Does the AG not know or care that covid and economics are inextricable? Doesn't the burden of sickness and death actually burden private citizens MORE than this AG and business fight over "lawful" requirements?

So at the top it's "nothing personal, just business"? Just let full hospitals churn and burn the sick and dying as the cost of keeping business going? Humans are now 'externalities' of Texas Big Corp?

I wonder what Beto thinks.

[Cryptoad]

3. Freedumb!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. These people won't be happy until people start getting stacked like cordwood...

... in hospital parking lots.

[EarthFirst]

8. It's coming...

Refrigerator trucks will be lining up again shortly if this keeps up.

[C Moon]

5. Texas GOP is worried.

[ananda]

6. That Paxton is such an asshole!

Los Tres Diablos: Abbott. Patrick, and Paxton!

And we thought Perry was the worst...

[They_Live]

7. You read my mind.

A bunch of jerks. I think a lot of their actions are illegal. Reprehensible behavior and words.

[ananda]

11. I bet we're thinking of the same words, lol!

Bumblefucking, maniacal idiots!

[ancianita]

12. Todos los lideres son pendejos.

Last edited Sun Nov 1, 2020, 03:25 PM - Edit history (1)

[ananda]

14. No todo. Biden no es.

Los Dems están bien!

[ancianita]

15. Si, por supuesto! Todos los lideres del partido Democratico son el maximo!

It's frustrating that we can't use accent marks in the headers.

[Yeehah]

9. The USA is a failed state

in which rational public health measures cannot be implemented because of a large population of low-intelligence members.

[Lonestarblue]

10. I cannot believe that people here vote for an idiot like Paxton.

I don’t know which is worse—Paxton or the equally idiotic Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. Patrick is the one who said back in March or so that older people should just be ready to die so the economy could be open. He, an ignoramus, has also said that Dr. Fauci, a world-renowned epidemiologist, doesn’t know what he’s talking about—at a time when the virus is increasing once again in Texas.

I really cannot understand how Republicans think! They want the economy fully open and then do the very things that prevent its ability to open. People will not travel much or eat out or go to concerts and events until it’s safe to do. Why is that so hard for Republicans to understand?

Edited to add this: The shutdown in El Paso is needed, but it will likely hurt voting on Tuesday. El Paso County is blue, but as of the close of early voting only 45% of registered voters had cast ballots. Other large counties were closer to 60%. Biden has a chance here, but probably not without more votes from both El Paso and Hildago Counties, both heavily Hispanic and both lagging general turnout. Hispanics are a huge voting bloc here and could wield power to vote in people who would help their communities, like expanding Medicaid since Texas has the largest population of uninsured in the country. That’s something local Democratic groups need to work on.

[ancianita]

13. Just my guess that this problem could mean the TX tip to blue won't happen.

[keithbvadu2]

16. All those deaths are "almost nothing" acc to the Trumps.

All those deaths are "almost nothing" acc to the Trumps.

[struggle4progress]

17. "Just the thought of grannies dying for the economy gives me a boner!"