IN THE NEWS: Hinojosa Calls on Greg Abbott to Secure $11 Billion Owed to Texas Taxpayers, Help Struggling Texans

Hinojosa: “Greg Abbott bragged about it when the bill was passed. Yet here we are, almost a year later, and still no money.”

Austin, TX – Gina Hinojosa, Democratic nominee for Texas governor, yesterday called on Greg Abbott to demand the federal government return $11 billion in taxpayer dollars Texans are owed and provide economic relief all across the state while inflation continues to rise.

“This is Greg Abbott hoarding our money at a time when people are desperate, and they need it now,” Hinojosa said. “During the summer, parents struggle with affording childcare while school is out. We know electricity bills skyrocket in Texas. We need a governor who’s going to go fight for our money and get it here for the people of Texas.”

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FOX 7: Texas Governor’s Race Heats Up

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  • “Where’s our money?” Is the question Democrat Gina Hinojosa is asking the governor.
  • The banners to her side were made up to note that the $11 billion that the federal government has agreed to reimburse the state has not yet been done. 
  • The payment was authorized by Congress a year ago, and reportedly, the Department of Homeland Security is still in the process of finalizing the release of the cash. Thursday morning, Hinojosa said Abbott wasn’t doing enough to speed up that process, despite claiming to have good relations with the Trump administration, and argued that the 11 billion could be used now to provide economic relief all across Texas. 
  • “Greg Abbott bragged about it, he crowed about it when the bill was passed. Yet here we are, almost a year later, and still no money. $11 billion goes a long way. We can waive property taxes for every family making $75,000 or less. We could deliver in the mail a check for $1,000 to every single Texas household with that money. And we could give restaurant workers health insurance for three years. That is real money. It belongs to the people of Texas, and I am calling on Greg Abbott to go get our money, to make himself useful. All of this is Greg Abbott hoarding our money at a time when people are desperate, and they need it now.”

KXAN: Texas still waiting on $11 billion in federal reimbursements related to Operation Lone Star

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  • It appeared last year that money was going to be reimbursed, but since then, Texas has not seen a cent. So, where is that money?
  • “I am calling on Greg Abbott to go get our money, to make himself useful.”
  • Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, called on Greg Abbott to secure that money now and use it to help struggling Texans. She proposes using the money in multiple ways, including $1000 for each household, property tax relief, or healthcare for restaurant employees. 
  • “It belongs to us, and we need a governor who’s going to go fight for it and get it here for the people of Texas.”

KVUE: Race for Texas governor: State Rep. Hinojosa campaigns in Austin

  • In the Texas Governor’s race, State Representative Gina Hinojosa stopped in Austin today with a focus on affordability for Texans. 
  • Hinojosa called on Governor Greg Abbott to push the federal government to refund billions of dollars the state spent on Operation Lone Star.
  • Hinojosa claims Governor Abbott has not done enough to collect that money. She also argued the money could help Texans facing higher costs for things like groceries, electric bills, property taxes, and insurance. 
  • “We are coming up upon the summer months. During the summer, parents struggle with affording childcare while school is out. We know electricity bills skyrocket during summer months in our hot summers in Texas. That is money that Texans could use now. $11 billion goes a long way.”

Texas Public Radio: Gina Hinojosa Calls Out Governor Abbott for Inaction on Getting Reimbursement From the Federal Government

  • State representative Gina Hinojosa called the governor out for his inaction on getting the funds from the federal Government.
  • “Greg Abbott bragged about it. He crowed about it when the bill was passed. Yet here we are, almost a year later, and still no money.” 
  • Hinojosa says that money could help Texans try and stay above water while inflation continues to rise.

Houston Chronicle: Trump signed a law to repay Texas’ border costs. A year later, the money still hasn’t arrived

  • Texas Republicans celebrated when they successfully tucked billions in federal funding into President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill to reimburse the state for Gov. Greg Abbott’s $11 billion border security crackdown. But nearly a year later none of the money has been dispersed, and it’s unclear when Texas will see any of it. 
  • Experts say the delay is notable. 
  • The governor’s office said it was confident Texas would get the funding. 
  • But the delay has nonetheless created an opening for Democrats who are hoping to capitalize on what many expect to be a difficult midterm for Republicans. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa has sought to make it an issue in her campaign against Abbott.  

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