The Texas House Democrats broke quorum for two weeks to prevent a vote on the state’s redrawn congressional map.
AUSTIN, Texas — Dozens of House Democrats who left Texas for two weeks, are now facing the financial consequences.
They were protesting legislation to redraw the state’s congressional maps.
We’re just hours away from a noon deadline, for Democrats to respond to the fines.
Representative Ray Lopez is one of the 50 democrats, who now owe almost $10,000 dollars in fines.
Lopez represents House District 125, which covers Bexar County. He and other Democrats who fled the state shared letters sent by the Committee on House Administration.
Their two-week absence led to the halting of any possible legislative action, including a vote on the state’s re-drawn congressional map in the GOP’s favor.
Each representative faces $500 dollars for each day they were gone, plus a share of the costs tied to trying to get them back to the state.
Under House rules, representatives can request due process hearings to explain why they shouldn’t pay the full amount of fines, but the deadline for any written submissions is mid-day Monday.
So far, we’ve not heard from any of them about whether they plan on protesting the fines.
Meantime, that redistricting bill’s already been sent to Governor Abbott’s desk and he is expected to sign it soon.