Dallas Co Democratic Chair Refers To Abbott As "Governor Wallace Of Our Time"
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Newly elected Dallas County Democratic Chair Carol Donovan said she believes Governor Greg Abbott is 'encouraging government employees to disobey the law' when it comes to enforcing the US Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage.
"He's got to watch it or he is going to be the Governor Wallace of our time," said Donovan.
Abbott sent a memo Friday to the heads of all state departments instructing them to 'prioritize the protection of Texans religious liberties'.
The Governor's office said Abbott wants to ensure that state employees as well as individuals doing business with the state 'cannot be discriminated against because of their religious beliefs.'
A spokesman for Abbott said the directive does not authorize or order state agencies to deny benefits to same-sex couple.
Abbott, making his first public appearance since the Supreme Court ruling, spoke to a crowd of 150 supporters Saturday evening at a Kaufman County Republican fundraiser.
Abbott told the crowd, "Our United States Supreme Court assaulted that freedom of religion this last week in its ruling on marriage … We may have lost that case but we are not giving up the fight to fight for our religious liberties."
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)