High Price Tag Of Texas Border Security Plan Draws Scrutiny
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Calls for unprecedented border security spending in Texas are drawing bipartisan scrutiny as the Senate proposes doubling funding to pay for more manpower and crime-fighting technology.
Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw told powerful budget writers Monday that hundreds of additional state troopers are needed along the Texas-Mexico border. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is keeping the Texas National Guard on the border until they're replaced by troopers.
But Democrats and some Republicans are showing frustration with a skyrocketing tab is approaching $1 billion since 2008. Border security was major issue among GOP voters last year, but Democrats and some Republicans want better metrics attached to more money.
The state last week announced it will offer fast-tracker training to veteran Texas police officers who want to become troopers.
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