AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas House once again does not have enough lawmakers for a quorum, as Texas House Democrats remain scattered across the nation.
“Each one of you knows that eventually you will come back and we will pass the priorities of the special session,” House Speaker Dustin Burrows said after gaveling in the session. “But with each passing day, the political cost of your absence is rising, and it will be paid in full.”
Only 95 members were present at the Texas Capitol today, just five members short of a quorum. More than 50 Democratic lawmakers left the state late Sunday night, breaking quorum and bringing Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting proposal to a screeching halt. Burrows condemned the representatives for holding the state “hostage,” issuing warrants for their civil arrest to get the special session back on track.
According to the Texas Constitution, two-thirds of elected members must be present in a chamber to take action on bills.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton — who are running against each other in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate — have upped their efforts to get Democrats back in the state. Just yesterday, Cornyn said the FBI honored his request to help Texas law enforcement agencies locate quorum-breaking Democrats. Meanwhile, Paxton launched an investigation into whether Beto O’Rourke and George Soros’ political groups are illegally funding the lawmakers’ out-of-state travel.
Abbott is also pressuring Democrats to return to Austin, filing a petition in the Texas Supreme Court to remove House Democratic Chair Gene Wu, D-Houston. Wu has until 5 p.m. today to respond. Paxton quickly followed suit, announcing any House members who do not return to the state by this afternoon will risk losing their seats.
But despite Republican threats, Texas Democrats have remained firm in their commitment to remain out of state.
“Once again, the Attorney General and now the Speaker of the Texas House are using the justice system to hunt down their political opponents and silence the voices of millions of Texans and Americans across the country,” State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, wrote in a statement Thursday night. “If defending democracy is a crime, I’m proud to be an outlaw.”
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