Texas GOP lawmakers are calling back state democrats that have fled to DC.
Dozens of Texas House and now even Senate Democrats have fled the State of Texas for Washington DC. Among them is Round Rock Rep. James Talarico and Austin’s Sarah Eckhardt, pressing for the Federal Government to take action on national level voting laws that would regulate how states run elections.
Back at the Texas Capital building GOP lawmakers remind their Democrat counterparts, the Texas special session has other big ticket items on the agenda. State Rep James White is pressing for a one time additional payment be sent to the Texas teachers retirement fund.
State Rep. Candy Noble says new property tax reforms are also on the table. But Texas House GOP leaders say none of these legislative efforts will matter if the Democrats don’t come back home so the legislature can have a quorum again and get back to work.
The Texas House has also directed the Sergeant at Arms to send police to round up the democrats who have fled the state in protest.
But there is a question of jurisdiction and the chair of the House GOP Caucus has said law enforcement can’t actually force them to return.
Governor Abbott says every democrat who fled should lose any positions they currently hold on committees.
