Texas Sues Volkswagen and Audi over Deceptive Trade Practices, Environmental Violations
“For years, Volkswagen intentionally mislead consumers about the environmental and performance qualities of the vehicles they sold in Texas,” said Attorney General Ken Paxton. “When companies willfully violate the public’s trust, a penalty must be paid, and we will hold these entities responsible.”
General Paxton Commends Leadership of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Interim Charges on Religious Liberties
“Religious liberty is the First Freedom established in the Bill of Rights and is the foundation of freedom of conscience for all Texans and Americans” said Attorney General Ken Paxton. “I commend the leadership of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in sending interim charges leading up to the 2017 Legislative Session to consider clarifying that the people of our state are free to live in accordance with their sincerely-held religious beliefs without fear of reprisal.”
Attorney General Paxton Files Brief in U.S. Supreme Court on HB 2
“Rather than comply with the common-sense measures to elevate the standard of care at abortion facilities laid out in HB 2, abortion activists continue to put Texas women at risk by challenging the legislature’s authority,” Attorney General Paxton said. “The abortion industry is not acting in the interest of women’s health ”“ it’s acting in the interest of preserving their bottom line by avoiding new health and safety requirements. The Supreme Court should uphold the will of Texans and allow the Fifth Circuit’s ruling to take effect.”
Settlement with RadioShack Approved by Bankruptcy Judge
“This settlement has given consumers a voice in RadioShack’s bankruptcy process, and we are pleased the retail giant is honoring its commitment to customers holding millions in unredeemed gift cards,” Attorney General Paxton said. "We hope this agreement will serve as a model for future settlements in other retail bankruptcy cases."
Attorney General Paxton Asks Court to Halt Illegal Water Rule in Texas
“This lawsuit is about reining in the EPA’s blatant overstep of federal authority,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Their latest attempt to control private and public lands and waters puts all Texas property owners at risk, making everything from ditches to dry creek beds subject to costly federal regulation. We must protect Texans’ ability to use their own property, and my office will continue to fight the Obama Administration’s overly broad and unconstitutional water rule in court.”
ICYMI: Report Reveals Obama Administration Data “Unreliable”
A report published this week by the federal Office of the Inspector General (OIG) revealed that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data regarding the premature issuance of expanded work permits is “unreliable.” The report follows an admission in May by the Obama Administration that expanded work permits were granted to more than 2,000 illegal immigrants under the president’s executive amnesty program in violation of a court order. The OIG concluded that, due to the condition of the administration’s data, they couldn’t determine how many such permits were issued.
DC Circuit Strikes Down EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Regulations
“In Texas we create air quality improvements through science and facts. The EPA’s agenda-driven mandates would have increased energy costs for hard-working Texans and decreased reliability. I’m pleased the court has sent the EPA marching back to the drawing board. We will continue to fight the EPA’s overreach while ensuring Texas can keep our air clean without wreaking havoc on family budgets.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton Announces $158 Million Mobile Cramming Settlements with Sprint and Verizon
Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division””along with the Attorneys General of the other 49 States and the District of Columbia, and the federal government””reached settlements with Sprint Corporation (“Sprint”) and Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Verizon”) that resolve charges of “mobile cramming” against the companies. The settlements include $158 million in payments, and resolve allegations that Sprint and Verizon placed charges for third-party services on consumers’ mobile telephone bills that were not authorized by the consumers, a practice known as “cramming.”
Attorney General Paxton: Regents Have Right to University Information
Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued an opinion regarding the right of university regents to access records in the possession of the university that a regent believes are necessary to review in order to fulfill his/her duties as a regent.