AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed a portion of the state budget that funds the Texas Legislature, following through on a threat he made shortly after Democrats walked out of the House chamber in the final hours of the session, killing several Republican priority bills - including a significant elections reform measure.
Abbott, in a tweet on Friday, announced that he had signed a "fiscally conservative Texas budget" with "no new taxes and a budget surplus of more than $1 billion."
The funding in Article X of the budget pays for lawmakers' $7,200 annual salaries, as well as pay for staff members. The legislative portion of the budget also funds legislative agencies such as the Legislative Reference Library, the Legislative Budget Board, and other support agencies and staffs.
"Texans don’t run from a legislative fight, and they don’t walk away from unfinished business," Abbott said in a statement confirming the veto. "Funding should not be provided for those who quit their job early, leaving their state with unfinished business and exposing taxpayers to higher costs for an additional legislative session. I therefore object to and disapprove of these appropriations."
The dispute comes after House Democrats walked out on May 30 to break quorum, effectively killing Senate Bill 7 and several other bills with just minutes left before a midnight deadline.
The veto will keep lawmakers, their staffs, and other legislative agencies from getting paid after August 31, unless the funding is restored.
Abbott has indicated he plans to call lawmakers back for at least two special sessions. In interviews, Abbott has pointed towards the elections bill and bail reform as issues he would bring lawmakers back to Austin to tackle. Later this year, lawmakers will also need to redraw the state's political maps based on the 2020 Census data, along with how to spend more than $16 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds.
Democrats were quick to condemn Abbott's veto, accusing him of abusing power by essentially defunding another branch of government.
"Texas has a governor, not a dictator or emperor," said Rep. Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie), chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. "Abbott’s actions are an inexcusable and dangerous attack on the separation of powers, as his veto consolidates more power in his own office."
