September 18, 2015 8:05 AM

Amid Medicaid controversy, Gov. Abbott refuses to release emails between his office and HHSC

Quorum Report asked for emails between Abbott’s office and HHSC during the time that huge Medicaid cuts became controversial – his office is appealing to the AG

While a Health and Human Services Commission hearing is set to get underway later this morning about severe planned cuts in services to disabled Texas kids, Quorum Report has been informed that Gov. Greg Abbott’s office will not release any communications between his office and HHSC – emails that would have been sent during the time the topic erupted in controversy.

As a bipartisan backlash grew against the cuts, sources told QR on August 26 that Abbott had told the agency to stick to its guns on the issue while staying publicly silent about it.

A spokesman for Gov. Abbott repeatedly declined to comment to QR and later declined to comment to the Houston Chronicle.

On September 2, Quorum Report submitted a Texas Public Information Act request for emails between Abbott’s office and top HHSC officials dated between July 1 and September 1.

After 5pm on Thursday evening, Abbott’s office informed QR that the request is being appealed to the Office of the Attorney General.

Here is the letter from Abbott’s office notifying QR of their decision to involve the AG’s office in the process.

By Scott Braddock