Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
An attempt by Democrat lawmakers in Texas to block election integrity bills by fleeing the state has backfired. On Monday, nearly all 67 Texas state representatives flew in private planes to Washington D.C. in an attempt to block GOP bills that would add stricter voter ID laws.
“As soon as they come back in the state of Texas, they will be arrested,” Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) asserted. “They will be cabined inside the Texas Capitol until they get their job done.”
Rep. Nicole Collier (D-Texas) spoke with press and claimed the only option left was to flee the state because it denied legislature quorum to pass the GOP’s voter reform bills, which aimed to add new ID requirements for citizens voting by mail.
“We had no other option. There was nothing left to give and so we took a stand,” she stated. “We left the state of Texas because that was the best and the right thing to do at the right time.”
Landed in D.C. Ready for some Good Trouble.#txlege#LetThePeopleVote#TexasFightsForVotingRights#JohnLewisVotingRightsAct#ForThePeople
@NicoleCollier95 pic.twitter.com/PXeDrzioRY
— Gina Hinojosa (@GinaForAustin) July 13, 2021
However, Abbott said this move could ultimately cost them their job.
“If they do not return to work, they’re risking losing their jobs as state representatives for not showing up,” he expressed. “First of all, I’ll tell you what the House of Representatives can do, the speaker can do, is issue a call to have these members arrested.”
Abbott warned fleeing the state would not stop the voting reform bills to make their way through legislature. He warned he would continue to maintains calls for a special session until elections of next year.
Texans Oppose Walkouts to Avoid Votes.
No one else gets paid to walk off their job.
Quitters never win.
We will continue successive Special Sessions until elected representatives do what they were elected to do—debate issues & cast votes.https://t.co/egrVh6zCbF via @TPPF
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 13, 2021
In the coming days, Texas state Democrats plan on begging Joe Biden to weaken federal voter laws and effectively block state legislation for election integrity where more backlash is sure to pop up.
Source: One America News Network
