Amid shutdown, Texas governor sidesteps border wall debate

By PAUL J. WEBER, Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Greg Abbott has made no mention of President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall after taking the oath for a second term as Texas governor.
A clash between Trump and congressional Democrats on funding for the wall sparked what is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Texas would be affected by the wall more than any other state. Still, in separate inaugural speeches Tuesday, neither Abbott nor Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick mentioned a proposal to have the state pay for part of the border wall if the federal government pays Texas back.
Patrick accompanied President Donald Trump to the Texas-Mexico border last week and has proposed the idea. Trump said, “You do things very well in Texas and I like that idea, so we’ll take a look.”