Texas has now spent more than $5 million suing the federal government since President Barack Obama took office in 2008.
New challenges over spousal benefits for same-sex couples and the Affordable Care Act have has already racked up more than $250,000 in taxpayer costs since Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton took office in January.
Paxton is following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Gov. Greg Abbott, who sued the federal government more than 30 times as attorney general.
More than half the challenges have targeted the Environmental Protection Agency. Paxton spokeswoman Cynthia Meyer says the lawsuits aim to protect Texans from "power grabs" that would impose new burdens on families and businesses.
Critics call the lawsuits a waste of money and politically motivated.
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Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com
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