The slogan goes, "Don't Mess With Texas." But with President Barack Obama in the White House a more appropriate cry might be: "Try it and we'll sue."

The Texas attorney general's office has filed 24 lawsuits against the federal government since Obama took office. Records obtained by The Associated Press show the litigation has cost taxpayers nearly $2.6 million and more than 14,000 hours spent by staff and lawyers.

Many of those have resulted in defeats, including the recent high-profile lawsuits defending Texas' voter ID law and the state-approved voting districts that a federal appeals court ruled were discriminatory. Those two cases alone cost the state more than $2 million.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says some of the legal fights are to promote industry and protect Texas jobs.