Texas Republicans are on track to pass an election integrity bill after enough Democrats in the House have returned to end the longest quorum break in the state’s history.
The Century Tribune was the first to announce the news that it was imminent, which they later updated and reported that “Speaker Dade Phelan gaveled the House out of session after achieving quorum until Monday at 4pm.”
A trio of House Democrats released a statement where they declared that they were “Proud of the heroic work and commitment” that those who had broke quorum showed.
The three Dems claimed that the reason they did so to “come together” amid a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the state and the return of students to school.
They also vowed to “continue the fight on the House floor.”
BREAKING: Texas Democrats end 38-day holdout over GOP voting bill, call themselves 'heroic' pic.twitter.com/hIeAlavK1a
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 19, 2021
Other Dems who were still holding out were not thrilled by the news and state Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos tweeted her frustration.
Ramos explained, “We were literally on caucus calls for 2 hours this morning and none of the defecting Democrats mentioned they were planning on helping the Republicans pass voter suppression bills. Guess what the other defecting Democrats have accomplished by going back—NOTHING!”
On Tuesday, the Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling that House Democrats may be arrested and brought to the chamber to restore quorum after they had initially voided an order from a liberal state District Judge.
Justice Jimmy Blacklock said in the opinion, “The legal question before this court concerns only whether the Texas Constitution gives the House of Representatives the authority to physically compel the attendance of absent members. We conclude that it does, and we therefore direct the district court to withdraw the (temporary restraining order).”
Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the court’s ruling in a tweet where he asserted, “As predicted, the law is on our side. House Democrats were elected to do a job — and it is time for them to come home and do just that, regardless if the outcome doesn’t lean in their favor. Childish antics will not be tolerated.”
Texas Supreme Court rules yet again on the side of law. These democrats need to come home and do the job they were elected to do. #Texas #Democrats https://t.co/tZf6aWHO1R
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 17, 2021
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