The Texas governor is under fire again after a Republican candidate hoping to take his seat says the incumbent should be held accountable for what's happening with the state's border crisis and the holes found in military pay related to service there.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines' strong allegations against Gov. Greg Abbott (R) come after the Texas Scorecard reports they received a spreadsheet detailing 545 Texas military personnel who are experiencing pay issues. That same day, Abbott said he was aware of only 84 Texans with this problem. It was unclear whether the governor intentionally misled the public, or whether he was misled by the Texas Military Department (TMD). Soldiers have reported delayed payments, incorrect or partial payments, and payments sent to the wrong bank accounts.
"Those responsible for the disaster on the Texas Border must be held accountable. That includes Greg Abbott," Huffines said in a statement.
To add fuel to the fire, on Dec. 2021, 150 Texas National Guard members serving in Abbott’s “Operation Lone Star,” protecting the Texas-Mexico border, told KHOU-TV Houston they weren’t getting full paychecks.
"Our servicemembers made an oath to defend our country, and they deserve leaders that will pay them on time," Huffines said in the statement. "Abbott has been unwilling to fix the problems with the Texas military forces, so when I am governor, I will clean up his mess and make sure our troops are paid everything they are owed."
Democratic members of Texas’ congressional delegation on Jan. 13 called for an inspector general investigation into Operation Lone Star, responding to news reports of “poor working and living conditions for troops, habitual pay problems, and suspected suicides tied to the operation,” according to the Austin-American Statesman. The letter claimed Operation Lone Star was “severely eroding the readiness of our National Guardsmen and their ability to be deployed on federal orders.”
Huffines wasn't the only Texan upset with the military pay accusations that have surfaced against Abbott.
“I've been part of the military family for my entire life," a servicemember's wife told KHOU. "I’ve never been more frustrated or more disappointed in the military leadership than I have with what’s going on right now."
The Texas Military Department confirmed the issues and said they were the result of “systems and administrative errors” that were being resolved.
In response to these claims, spokesperson for the Texas Military Department Col. Rita Holton said in a tweet, "Personnel supporting #OperationLoneStar have access to detailed pay statements. Each Task Force S1 has them going back to the start of #OLS; members can sign for them. HQ pay teams are in the field addressing member pay discrepancies and answering pay stub questions."
Abbott said the criticism of his opponents was “just playing politics," according to KWTX.
Elected in 2014, Abbott is currently serving as the 48th governor of Texas. Before being elected governor, Abbott was the longest-serving attorney general of Texas, according to Abbott's website.
According to Ballotpedia, Huffines is the CEO of Huffines Communities, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based real estate development firm. From 2015 to 2019 he served in the Texas Senate, representing the people of Texas' 16th senate district, the Texas governor's website states. The businessman joins a crowded field along with former Florida Congressman and Texas GOP Chairman Allen West and media personality Chad Prather, challenging Abbott in the March 1 GOP gubernatorial primary. Former El Paso City Council member and U.S. Congressman Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke leads the Democratic field for nomination to run for governor. O'Rourke previously mounted unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate and the president of the United States.
