There has been an outpour of statements in reaction to Democrats leaving the state and breaking quorum, Monday afternoon, in an effort to stall GOP efforts to pass election integrity legislation.
"Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans' freedom to vote," a joint statement from House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Rafael Anchía, Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair Nicole Collier, Legislative Study Group Caucus Chair Garnet Coleman and Dean Senfronia Thompson said.
In response, Governor Greg Abbott has released the following statement: "Texas Democrats' decision to break a quorum of the Texas Legislature and abandon the Texas State Capitol inflicts harm on the very Texans who elected them to serve. As they fly across the country on cushy private planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state. Issues like: property tax relief, funding to support Sheriffs and law enforcement in high crime areas, funding for children in foster care, and, funding for retired teachers. The Democrats must put aside partisan political games and get back to the job they were elected to do. Their constituents must not be denied these important resources simply because their elected representative refused to show up to work."
By fleeing the state and breaking quorum in the lower chamber, Democrats hope to run out the clock on a 30-day special session, which is set to end on August 6.
House Speaker Dade Phelan blasted the Democrats' departure in a statement. "These actions put at risk state funding that will deny thousands of hard-working staff members and their families a paycheck, health benefits, and retirement investment so that legislators who broke quorum can flee to Washington D.C. in private jets," said Phelan.
"The Texas House will use every available resource under the Texas Constitution and the unanimously-passed House Rules to secure a quorum to meaningfully debate and consider election integrity, bail reform, benefits for retired teachers, Child Protective Services reform, Article X funding, and the other important measures Gov. Abbott placed on the special session agenda," said Phelan. "The special session clock is ticking -- I expect all Members to be present in our Capitol in order to immediately get to work on these issues."
While other Democratic group allies have been quick to express their support:
ACLU of Texas Statement: "From the beginning, the governor designed this special session to suppress Texans' civil liberties. Over the weekend, hundreds of people testified against bills that would take away voting rights and abuse the bail system to lock up poor Texans. Today, even more people are speaking out at the Capitol against bills further restricting reproductive rights and banning transgender children from participating in youth sports. The walkout is a drastic action in direct response to the governor's refusal to listen to his constituents or address the real needs of Texans.
The governor should do his job and actually govern Texas. Instead of fighting culture wars, he should focus the special session on solving the dire issues facing Texas: passing a budget, fixing the energy grid, and dealing with the impact of the pandemic."
MOVE Texas Action Fund Executive Director Claudia Yoli Ferla also issued the following statement: (in part) "We applaud the pro-voter lawmakers who have once again taken a bold stand for our communities, and thank the hundreds of young people who made this possible through their advocacy. This second walkout is a daring, but necessary move to preserve the freedom to vote in Texas: the freedom from which all other liberties emanate."
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