Relief funds sent to governments

The U.S. treasury has sent $139 billion to the country’s state and local governments in COVID-19 relief funds, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Government.

To track this spending in the Lone Star State, a group called Texas Housers has filed public information requests with major city and county governments, seeking documentation of new expenditures and policies.

“However, recent guidance from Attorney General Ken Paxton has eviscerated Texas’ Public Information Act and given governments impunity to operate without public scrutiny,” Texas Housers, an advocacy group supporting affordable housing, said in a statement. “The guidance allows governments to ignore public information requests if they are operating ‘skeleton crews’ and working remotely during the pandemic.”

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition https://etypeservices.com/Teague%20ChronicleID677/