Day 2 of Texas Democrats’ Political Stunt as GOP Lawmakers Take Serious Steps

Dozens of Texas state House Democrats fled their state over the weekend to deny Republicans the quorum, which essentially blocked the GOP from passing a congressional map that would give them five additional pickup opportunities.

Key Facts:

Texas state House Democrats fled the state to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass a redrawn congressional map.
The map would have provided the GOP with five additional opportunities to pick up seats.
Texas Republican leadership, including Speaker Dustin Burrows and Attorney General Ken Paxton, is exploring legal avenues to compel Democrats to return or remove them from office.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn called for FBI involvement in investigating potential criminal acts, including bribery.
Democratic governors in Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts have offered sanctuary to the fleeing lawmakers.

The Rest of The Story:

Over the weekend, a significant number of Texas state House Democrats absconded to prevent a vote on a redistricting plan that would increase Republican pickup opportunities in the state’s congressional map.

The GOP’s attempt to gain five more seats via the map was thwarted when Democrats refused to attend a key session on Tuesday, denying the Republicans the necessary quorum to advance the bill.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows declared his intent to continue efforts to convene the session by Friday, while Republican leaders sought legal options to either compel Democrats’ return or declare their offices vacant.

Meanwhile, Senator John Cornyn of Texas raised the stakes, urging the FBI to investigate the lawmakers’ actions as potential criminal activity.

The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, was equally firm, threatening to declare any absent lawmakers as derelict in their duties and subject to removal.

The Democrats, however, found refuge in liberal-leaning states. Governors from Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts offered sanctuary, claiming the fleeing lawmakers were acting legally, with New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul even justifying their actions as “good trouble,” echoing the sentiments of civil rights leader John Lewis.

Commentary:

This walkout by Texas House Democrats is nothing short of a political stunt designed to obstruct the democratic process.

The tactics employed would be deemed unprofessional in any other setting—imagine a business scenario where employees simply walk off the job to avoid tasks they find inconvenient or disagreeable.

In this case, elected officials are abandoning their sworn duties to stall a vital legislative process that the people of Texas have a right to see concluded.

By fleeing to states with no legal repercussions, these Democrats are not only dishonoring their offices but also violating the public trust.

Imagine the outcry if a private sector worker simply didn’t show up because they disagreed with the tasks at hand. This is no different.

Elected officials must be held accountable for their actions, and those who refuse to fulfill their responsibilities should face the consequences, including the removal from office.

The idea that other governors, like those from Illinois and New York, are shielding these lawmakers is equally disgraceful.

They’re enabling an unlawful act that undermines the authority of Texas voters, allowing these lawmakers to dodge accountability for their dereliction of duty.

Furthermore, for Democrats to claim they are engaging in a noble cause by running away from their responsibilities is a dangerous precedent.

Public service is about commitment, not evasion. If lawmakers can pick and choose when they show up to work, then our legislative bodies lose all integrity.

This kind of behavior must come to an end. It is time for these runaway legislators to face the music, return to Texas, and get back to work for the people they represent.

The Bottom Line:

Texas Democrats’ decision to flee the state in an attempt to block a redistricting vote is a blatant attempt to undermine the legislative process.

These lawmakers are abdicating their responsibility, and the actions of other governors protecting them only further tarnish the credibility of the political system.

If elected officials are unwilling to do their jobs, they must be held accountable for their actions.

This behavior is unacceptable, and it is time for it to end.