A CNN investigation found that “at most, around $550,000 has been raised to date” from private coffers. That leaves Texas taxpayers on the hook for 99% of the $150 million expense for busing migrants around the country. Abbott's MAGA stunt has bused them to Democratic cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Denver.
Oddly, the state website tallying the donations originally stated they had reached more than $1.3 million, CNN reported, but that amount was adjusted in December to $460,196. CNN found that a donation for $900,000 mysteriously disappeared from the tally. The news organization also found other false donations:
CNN also spoke with another donor listed in the data who confirmed he did not make the $2,000 donation listed under his name. Yet another donor showed reporters a letter he said he received from the state after complaining that his $1,000 donation to the state border wall fund had been instead allocated to the busing efforts.
That means that taxpayers have paid close to $150 million to “own the libs,” or about $1,500 per bused migrant, CNN estimated. If right-wing donors don’t want to cough up the money, I’d love to see a poll showing how everyday Texans feel about being stuck with the bills.
It’s not just an expensive stunt for Texas taxpayers but a dangerous and potentially lethal one for the supposedly pro-life state.
More from CNN:
Last year, a 3-year-old migrant girl died while on a bus to Chicago as part of Abbott’s busing program, and a 10-year-old girl was reportedly hospitalized the prior year due to dehydration and a high fever while on a bus to Philadelphia.
Then again, we know that Abbott and his GOP cronies only care about the lives of fetuses. Once they’re born, the right-wingers don’t care if Texans get shot, are exposed to potentially fatal diseases, die on the job from heat or get inadequate health care.
