Sixty-seven Texas House Democrats fled Austin Monday for Washington, D.C. on private planes in a political maneuver that Gov. Greg Abbott said only hurts Texans.
Shortly after 2 p.m., House Democrats confirmed in a statement they were not returning to the state Capitol to complete an ongoing special session, which began July 8 and lasts for 30 days.
By leaving Texas, House Democrats avoided being arrested by a "Call of the House," which Speaker of the House Dade Phelan could have initiated had the members left Tuesday, when the chamber is scheduled to be back in session.
With 67 Democrats leaving and breaking quorum, they ensure that the House can't conduct business when it is slated to reconvene Tuesday.
"Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans' freedom to vote," Democratic Reps.
"We are living on borrowed time in Texas. We need Congress to act now to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to protect Texans - and all Americans - from the Trump Republicans' nationwide war on democracy." The 67 House Democrats flew on two chartered flights from Austin, taking selfies on a bus to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with a case of Miller Lite beer in a seat next to them.
"Their constituents must not be denied these important resources simply because their elected representative refused to show up to work." Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also tweeted a picture of Democratic lawmakers, saying, "Smiling House Dems fly off to DC on a private jet with a case of Miller Lite, breaking House quorum, abandoning their constituents, while the Senate still works." But Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, told The Dallas Morning News that fleeing Austin didn't mean they weren't doing their jobs.
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/texas-house-democrats-flee-state-private-jets
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