Dozens of Texas House Democrats fled the state last Sunday to stop consideration of a proposed congressional redistricting map.
AUSTIN, Texas — For the third time this week, the Texas House was unable to establish a quorum on Friday, as dozens of House Democrats remain scattered throughout other states.
More than 50 House Democrats fled the state on Sunday to stop stop consideration of a proposed congressional redistricting map. At least 100 House members must be present for a quorum to be established, allowing the House to conduct regular business. There are currently 150 members in the Texas House: 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats.
The Democrats’ absence has been met with escalating threats from Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) – from ordering Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers to conduct civil arrests if the Democrats return to Texas, to reportedly getting the FBI involved in Illinois, where many of the Democrats went when they left.
On Friday, Burrows gaveled the present House members in before walking them through the steps being taken to bring their colleagues back.
Burrows said on Thursday, he and Paxton took action to “domesticate the civil arrest warrants” in the state of Illinois, seeking to make them enforceable beyond Texas state lines. He also said State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth), chair of the House Administration Committee, has contacted the sergeant-at-arms of the Illinois House of Representatives to request their direct assistance in returning the absent lawmakers.
Burrows added that he has been in constant communication with DPS, as troopers work to track down the Democrats in an effort to return them to the chamber. He said those efforts will continue through the weekend.
Current consequences for absent Democrats
In addition to daily fines, Burrows announced that he and Comptroller Kelly Hancock have enacted a new policy to prevent lawmakers breaking quorum from having their paycheck or per diem deposited electronically.
“While the Constitution forbids us from withholding pay, it does not dictate how we issue the pay,” Burrows said. “Those [pay]checks must now be picked up in person, on Capitol grounds, effective immediately.”
Burrows also announced that 30% of each quorum-breaking state representatives’ monthly operating budget will be reserved and made unavailable for expenditure. Absent members must appear in person to approve any or enact any of the following requests: travel reimbursement; personal action requests, including those increasing or decreasing staff salaries; approval for newsletters and House reproduction services.
Failure to appear in person will result in the cancellation of members’ newsletters and the encumbered funds, according to Burrows.
“We have all hands on deck. We are continuing to explore new avenues to compel a quorum and will keep pressing forward until the job is done,” Burrows said.
Burrows’ message to Texas House Democrats
Burrows said on Friday, State Rep. Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood) will file House Bill 3, the chamber’s priority legislation for flood recover and infrastructure, developed after hearing 25 hours of testimony from Texans who were impacted by the deadly flooding over Fourth of July weekend.
“To those in California, Illinois, New York or Massachusetts, wherever you may be, hear this: The bill cannot be referred to committee without a quorum. Every hour you remain away is time stolen from those Texans in need,” Burrows said. “Each one of you knows that, eventually, you will come back and we will pass the priorities of the special session on the call. But with each passing day, the political cost of your absence is rising. And it will be paid in full.”
Burrows said he expects members to be present on 1 p.m. Monday at the latest, but should DPS execute a civil arrest of enough absent Democrats over the weekend, members are on call and will need to be able to return to Austin with a minimum of six hours notice.