Texas Democrats Could Be Compelled to Return to Capitol Via Arrest Warrant: House Speaker
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Texas Democrats could be compelled to return to the state Capitol via an arrest warrant, according to the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.
For Texas Democrats who have returned home from Washington, D.C., Republican speaker Dade Phelan said they could be compelled to return under "warrant of arrest if necessary," although the holdout remains a civil rather than criminal matter.
"People aren't going to jail, but they got to come back to work," Republican state Rep. Mayes Middleton said.
The new push from the GOP to take action via law enforcement against Democrats who left Texas to stop new voting restrictions comes 30 days after the lawmakers initially left the state.
How soon or even whether law enforcement would seek out Democrats was not immediately clear. Late Tuesday, Phelan spokesman Enrique Marquez confirmed reports first published by The Dallas Morning News that the speaker had signed civil arrest warrants for 52 House Democrats. The move marks a new effort by the GOP to end the protest over an elections bill a month after more than 50 of them bolted to Washington, D.C., in a dramatic show of resolve to make Texas the front lines of a new national battle over voting rights.
The pressure tactic by Republicans comes as Democrats disagree over how — and when — to retreat. The divisions have spilled in the open as the GOP presses forward with a third attempt to pass an election overhaul bill. With new court losses and attention turning toward Texas' surging COVID-19 caseloads, pressure is mounting on Democrats who lack the numbers to permanently stop a bill from passing.
As of Tuesday, Republicans needed just five more lawmakers present in the House to move forward with a raft of tweaks and changes to the state's election code which would make it harder — and even, sometimes, legally riskier — to cast a ballot in Texas, which already has some of the most restrictive election laws in the nation.
"We had many heated debates in Washington as we debated our own next steps," said state Representative James Talarico, one of a handful of Democrats who returned to the Texas Capitol this week. "I'm going to keep those arguments in private. But I know emotions are rightfully running high everywhere, and it's been a difficult month."
Texas is among several states where Republicans have rushed to enact new voting restrictions in response to former President Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. The current bill is similar to the ones Democrats blocked last month by going to Washington. It would ban 24-hour polling locations, drive-thru voting and give partisan poll watchers more access, among other things.
It was unclear Tuesday how many Democrats remained in Washington. The ranks of the group had dwindled to less than half. Some who stayed behind have publicly fumed at a handful of colleagues who returned to the Legislature. Progressive allies are also pressuring wavering Democrats to hold the line and stay away from the Capitol, even if they come back to Texas.
"You threw us under the bus today! Why?" Dallas Democratic state Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos said in a tweet that included a picture of Talarico and other Democrats on the floor of the Texas House.
Democrats had preemptively sought to block the GOP from using law enforcement to compel their attendance. But in another setback, the Texas Supreme Court blocked those efforts Tuesday.
State Representative Vikki Goodwin, who returned to Texas this week, said she and fellow Democrats have consistently agreed in daily check-ins that they "are committed to quorum break at this time." She said those who returned did so for personal, professional and political reasons, including helping their districts through COVID-19 surges.
Democratic state Representative Celia Israel was also back in Austin and said "there is no way" she will return to the Texas House. On Tuesday, she delivered doughnuts to teachers and met with constituents.
"Every day that we can not be on the floor doing business according to Gov. Abbott's agenda is a good day," Israel said.
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Surely by now reality has set in for Texas Democrats and they know the outcome of their little "vacation" ploy.
Send in the clowns! In hand cuffs and ankle chains, figuratively speaking for their humiliating perp walk to legislative chambers.
Just need to round up a few of these idiots, bring them to the Capitol, and pass legislation.
Judging from the lack of comments from progressives, it appears most have gave up and the Texas Democrats' 15 minutes of fame is over.
About freaking time!
Can someone explain what is so bad in the Texas election laws that they are listed here as some of the most restrictive? I thought Texas allowed for absentee voting, early voting and several other pieces that other states do not allow. What is so restrictive with the current laws?
Nothing at all. Just progressive liberals going bonkers.
thanks, that's what I thought but it's better to be sure.
They were elected to serve - they aren't serving - get rid of their azzes.
24 hour polling?? Why??? Drive-in/drive-through voting?? Why, this ain't McDonalds. Increased opportunity for poll watchers to WATCH??? Problem with this is?????