Greg Abbott Upset with a Republican Decision. What?

Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas, mandated that his office file an objection to the congressional map issued by a federal court in San Antonio. The objection, according to Tim Eaton of The Austin American Statesman, claims the federal court "undermines the will of the citizenry", and is without power to supplant the Texas Legislature's policy choices, among others (Visit Redistricting Fight for full article).
The irony of this action taken by Attorney General Abbott is that it was taken against a GOP majority panel of judges. As an outsider looking in, I can only conclude that the Republican party of Texas knows no bounds in bending the rules to increase and secure power in Texas government. The initial redrawn district maps proposed by the Republican majority Texas Legislature, although obviously intended to shift the few Democratic strongeholds that remain toward more friendly Republican situations for elections, at least had an air of democratic due diligence. This objection instead shows no signs of democracy, but is stated more along that of an autocracy, a "you're with us or you're against us" mentality intended, I believe, to do little more than intimidate.
The fact that the three-judge panel, two Republican appointees and one Democratic, felt that the Texas Legislature's map was so biased that they instead drew an entirely new one, speaks volumes. As an independent panel that was appointed and not elected, their ruling allowed for the right decision to be made, not a party decision. Not standing for clear biases and party proliferation as reasoning for redrawing districts, the court instead showed balance and fairness in their map, praised by all but the fervent Republicans frustrated that anything or anyone would stand in the way of their vision.
The article also touches on the fact that any redrawing of district maps, especially in states such as Texas with a discriminatory history, must be approved by the federal government through a process known as pre-clearance. Given this history, I hoped the Texas Legislature would recognize this mistake and seek a more compromising position. I was wrong. It appears instead that Greg Abbott and his posse wants to take Texas back to the twentieth century.

An Amendment to the Texas Constitution Worth Voting For.

This article written by Josh Coffman is literature that everyone, especially registered voters, should read. Mr. Coffman explains how this proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution would allow for a veteran who is 100% disabled to receive a homestead exemption for tax purposes that can be passed on to his/her spouse upon passing away ( Visit Eyes of Texas for complete article). Although this may seem arbitrary, the sheer good an amendment like this can have on a veteran's family is inmeasurable.
The toll of caring for a disabled loved one is unknown to many, including myself. However, I can imagine the dedication and love necessary to make this feat a reality. Dealing with the tax issues that are allowed for presently isn't fair to the family who has just lost a family member. The least we can do as citizens to show our appreciation is to pass this amendment. Mr. Coffman points out how small the portion of the population this will actually affect, but one can imagine how greatly received it would be.
Choosing to place oneself in danger for the good of others is a task met daily by the men and women who serve in our military. It's time to say thank you and show the respect this type of courage earns. It's time to get this amendment passed.