Houston, Texas. The Attorney General of Texas possesses massive power to affect the everyday lives of Texans. In our "weak Governor" system, the current Attorney General has used his powers to provide legal cover for the Governor's partisan, politicized agenda.

The Attorney General has consistently served as Governor Perry's Consigliere. What happens when the office of Attorney General is used for partisan, political gain?

•    Texans are robbed of over 100 years of seniority in the U.S. House of Representatives through politically motivated mid-decade redistricting. Governor Perry and Tom Delay did not have the power to trigger mid-decade redistricting. The Texas Attorney General issued the opinion enabling mid-decade redistricting, without which redistricting could not have occurred.

•    Texans are subject to an unconstitutional, unfair tax. Governor Perry wanted to implement a new income tax in place of the old franchise tax.  Under the Bullock Amendment, he could not institute an income tax without voter approval. The Texas Attorney General provided the legal opinion that allowed the margin tax on income to proceed without the constitutionally required statewide referendum.  The Attorney General ignored the well-reasoned Comptroller's opinion that the margin tax is an income tax, requiring the people’s vote.  

•    Sexual abuse of our children is ignored.  The Texas Attorney General enabled the Texas Youth Commission's cover up of sexual abuse, refusing to intervene after the Texas Ranger's presentation to the Governor and Attorney General of concrete, first hand evidence and affidavits of abuse. After the scandal was exposed by the press, the Governor tapped as "Conservator" an official who was in the Office of Attorney General at the time of the decision to not pursue the Rangers' evidence.

On Thursday, December 3, 2009, Barbara Ann Radnofsky will officially file to run for Texas Attorney General.  She will file at the Texas Democratic Party Headquarters, 505 West 12th Street, Suite 200 Austin, Texas 78701, at 9:00 a.m. and will follow with a press conference at 10:00 a.m. 

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Media Contact: Katie Floyd
Office: 713-357-3360; katie.floyd@radnofsky.com