Texas House Democrats preparing to flee the state in move that could block voting restrictions bill

[LetMyPeopleVote]

This makes me proud to be a Texas Democrat

Link to tweet

Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives plan to leave the state and fly to Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon, according to sources with knowledge of the plan, in a bid to again deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass new voting restrictions with 27 days left in a special legislative session called largely for that purpose.

Upping the ante in both the legislative fight at home and the national debate over voting rights, most House Democrats are expected to board a flight out of Austin headed for the U.S. capital without a set return date. They’ll need at least 51 of the 67 Democratic representatives to flee for their plan to work. The House is set to reconvene Tuesday morning, but the absent Democrats could mean there will not be enough members present to conduct business under House rules.

With the national political spotlight on Texas’ efforts to further restrict voting, the Democratic exodus offers them a platform to continue pleading with Congress to act on restoring federal protections for voters of color. In Texas, the decamping will mark a more aggressive stance by Democrats to block Republican legislation further tightening the state’s voting rules as the GOP works against thinning statewide margins of victory

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[Lovie777]

1. Why are they signaling this? . . ..

republicans probably suspected this, but damn.

[Me.]

3. Preparing?

THey should've gotten the hell out last night? And yes why are they signaling this? Are they going tell all of us where they are?

[Lovie777]

4. D.C. either they are already done - taking 2 charter flights .. .

or about to leave.

[Me.]

5. I know they're going to DC

but why is it being broadcast at this point? Don't make it easy on Abbot to find them and have them arrested.

[TexasTowelie]

10. The Texas Rangers do not have any jurisdiction outside Texas

so they cannot arrest any legislators beyond the state border lines.

[Me.]

11. I KNow That Now

but didn't when he first said it and apparently, he doesn't know it

[Shell_Seas]

7. From what I understand, they're already in the air.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. Under the rules, the House cannot arrest the Dems until quorum call

There can be quorum call until tomorrow at the earliest. The Democrats were safe to discuss these plan so long as they were out of Texas by tomorrow

[PortTack]

2. This is how to fight...they are writing history against an oppressive foe

[Shell_Seas]

6. Yaaaassss!!!!!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. Greg is unhappy

Link to tweet