Trying to block Republican efforts to pass election integrity laws in Texas, many House Democrats fled the state to block a quorum for the second time during a special legislative session.
According to the Wall Street Journal, dozens of Texas House Democrats left the state to prevent the majority-holding Republicans from passing legislation known as SB1 during the session called by Gov. Greg Abbott that lasts from July 8 to Aug. 7.
"This bill ultimately does more harm than good," State Rep. Eddie Morales, Jr. (D-Eagle Pass), one of a handful of Democrat lawmakers who remained in the state, said in a statement. "I believe that it is the duty of elected officials, regardless of political party, to stand up to such legislation on behalf of the voters who elected us to such positions."
The Tyler Morning Telegraph reported an overwhelming majority of House Democrats left the state on July 12 in private jets bound for Washington D.C. in order to avoid being arrested by a “Call of the House” order from Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, which could have been initiated July 13, when the House was back in session. House Democrats released a statement that stated they would not return to Texas for the rest of the 30-day special session.
According to the Austin American Statesman, out of the 67 total Democrats in the Texas House, 63 were absent and only two absences were excused. The Texas House voted on July 13 to compel Democrats who left the state to return and attend the legislative session, using warrants and arrests if necessary.
A poll from the Texas Public Policy Foundation found 54% of Texans oppose legislators staging walkouts. “Most Texans see it as a childish and desperate move, and they don’t like temper tantrums,” Brian Phillips, a TPFF spokesman, said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal.
Gov. Greg Abbott recently vetoed a section of the Texas budget that granted funding to the State Legislature, KXAN News reported. Abbott undertook this action after Democrats broke quorum a first time to prevent the passage of SB7. Abbott announced on July 12 that he would call special session in perpetuity until Texas voting legislation is approved.
Back on May 31, Texas House Democrats left the capitol for the first time to prevent the bill from being passed. Empire State Today reported that by exiting early, Texas Democrats left the House with fewer than the required number of legislators to vote on SB7.
According to the same article, TX SB7 would offer two weeks of early voting, eliminate drive-through and 24-hour voting, mandate a state ID or social security number requirement for all mail in ballots, and change the legal burden for voter fraud from “beyond a reasonable doubt” to “by a preponderance of the evidence.”
According to a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll of 1,115 National Adults, 79% of respondents believe voters should be required to show government-issued photo identification whenever they vote.
