Shelter attack abuses power

Re: “Paxton wants shelter shuttered — AG locked in legal fight with El Paso nonprofit that helps migrants,” Monday news story.

My family’s acquaintance with Bishop Mark Seitz of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso goes back many years to several Dallas area parishes where he was a priest. He was one of the first people to visit my husband after his heart attack, and we have admired his kindness and faith because he genuinely cares about people.

We find Ken Paxton’s attacks against the shelters and services in El Paso to be against the Christian belief to love one’s neighbor. What a tragic misuse of political power this truly is! It’s like Paxton wants to rewrite the Ten Commandments, particularly those that he does not support.

Susan Stinson, Richardson

Paxton and Matthew 25:43-45

In Matthew 25:43-45, Jesus says: “I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me… They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes … and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”

By suing an organization that helps strangers who need food, clothing and shelter, Attorney General Ken Paxton is blatantly refusing to follow what Jesus commands us to do. What’s next — the food pantries around our state that give food to the documented and undocumented, our public schools that educate everyone? Oh wait, you’re already doing that by withholding needed funds.

I am ashamed to live in the state of Texas with Ken Paxton in charge of law enforcement.

Debbie Gallagher, Cedar Hill

Lieber for governor

Re: “Game plan for Texas’ $20B surplus,” by Dave Lieber, Sunday Metro column.

Lieber’s column sharing his ideas of what should be done with the Texas budget surplus was enlightening. I only have one request. Mr. Lieber, please consider a run for the governor’s office. Help us rid ourselves of what we are currently stuck with in Austin.

Thomas Kelly, Lantana

Surplus belongs to taxpayers

The simple and right thing to do is return the $20 billion to the taxpayers who provided it.

Frank M. Wagnon, Southlake

Use surplus to fix DPS

How is it that Texas has such huge budget surpluses, and yet the next appointment for my in-person license renewal at the closest Texas Department of Public Safety is more than three months from now? Wait times for driver licenses for individuals moving to Texas are similar.

As a volunteer voter deputy registrar, I am told by our newest Texans that this can play havoc when it comes time to vote as well, since Texas has strict ID laws, with the vast majority of voters using their driver’s license. Texans deserve better from our state government.

Cathy Murphree, Richardson

Extremes in both parties

Re: “GOP has true extremists,” by Ted Felinski, Sunday Letters.

I can’t agree with Felinski’s letter suggesting Democrats have no extreme platforms. Of course they do. People of a given party, no matter which one, tend to think they are not extreme, but that’s rarely the case. For the record, I am a center moderate.

Back to some of the extremes of the Democratic Party: how about student loan forgiveness, one health care system for all, strict bans on the fossil fuel industry, bans on guns and extreme controls on climate, for example?

I’m sure there are others, but you get the point. Moderation from both parties would provide the vast majority of today’s voters what they want, and what they want is what is good for the country.

Gary Tutt, McKinney

Alabama senator disingenuous

Re: “Britt defends story used to attack Biden — Senator pushes back on criticism of her choice to omit key context,” Monday news story.

When U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said, “This is a story of what is happening now at an astronomical rate, and we have to bring attention to it,” she was being disingenuous. If there had been a story from the Biden administration to illustrate her point, she would have used it.

Instead of trying to defend the indefensible, a better strategy would be to apologize for giving a misleading impression, then lay low until another story of Republican duplicity takes over the media. I’m sure we won’t have to wait long.

Deborah Kronschnabel, Grapevine

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