Tuesday’s walkout was another moment for Texas Democrats to speak out against the controversial proposed congressional maps.
DALLAS — The Texas Senate on Tuesday passed the controversial redistricting maps, despite a walkout by Democrats, but the House can’t consider the bill until a quorum is reached.
The Democrats’ walkout Tuesday, shortly before the Senate took up the maps, was a mostly symbolic move.
Texas Senate Republicans still had enough members present to vote on — and pass — the new maps, although the maps can’t be advanced to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk since the Texas House remains without a quorum, as House Democrats remain out of state.
Even so, the Senate passed the bill 19-2, with nine members absent from the vote.
“The Texas Senate will continue passing this map each legislative session to accurately reflect our state until House Democrats return from their ‘vacation’ and get back to work for the people of Texas,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said.
Still, Tuesday’s walkout was another moment for Texas Democrats to speak out against the controversial proposed congressional maps.
“I’m not going back into that farce, into that bull—- room,” Sen. Roland Gutierrez said in a press conference after the walkout. “They would rather be Donald Trump’s lapdogs than to do what is necessary for the people of Texas.”
Sen. Sara Eckhardt questioned the point of the redistricting.
“Who are we serving with redistricting? Ourselves?” she asked. “We have a lot of work to do to serve Texans who are desperate for flood relief and red flag orders (after recent mass shootings).”
The walkout on Tuesday happened shortly after Abbott announced he will immediately call a new special session if House Democrats don’t return to the Capitol by the end of this week.
“There will be no reprieve for the derelict Democrats who fled the state and abandoned their duty to the people who elected them,” Abbott said. “I will continue to call special session after special session until we get this Texas first agenda passed.”
Abbott said Special Session #2 will have the same agenda as the current one, but could include additional priorities “critical to Texans.”
The standoff has now stretched into its second week. Abbott again emphasized that he’s prepared for the long haul: “If they think all they have to do is wait it out until November or December, they’re wrong. I’m gonna do this for the next two years!”