Greg Abbott Says Democrats Fleeing Texas “Will Be Arrested” Upon Return To State

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said Democratic lawmakers who have left the state can and “will be arrested” upon their return as he pushes changes to voting laws.

Abbott, a Republican, gave an interview to KVUE on Monday about the Democrats’ decision to leave the state and whether the special session of the Texas legislature called by the governor can take place.

Democratic lawmakers left Texas for Washington, DC on Monday to deny the legislature the two-thirds quorum needed to conduct business and pass legislation.

KVUE asked Abbott if the Democratic walkout meant the voting bills – Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3 – couldn’t pass and if he could do something about it. than governor to compel lawmakers to return to the state.

Abbott said there is “still a lot of time to pass not only the bills you mentioned, but there are a lot of other bills out there.”

He highlighted some of the measures other than voting reforms. He then broached the question of the quorum.

“In answering your second question, yes, there is something the governor can do,” Abbott said.

“First of all, I will tell you what the House of Representatives can do. What the speaker can do is call for these members to be arrested.

“On top of that, however, I can and will continue to convene extraordinary session after extraordinary session after extraordinary session until next year’s elections. And so if these people want to hang out where they hang out on this paid-for-by trip taxpayers, they’re going to have to be prepared to do this for over a year, “the governor said.

“As soon as they get back to the state of Texas, they will be arrested, they will be locked inside the Texas Capitol until they do their job. Anyone who has a job must report to do it. this work, just like your viewers watching right now. State officials have the same responsibility. “

Over the weekend, Republicans in the state legislature worked to quickly move the two voting bills forward. These bills would add new identification requirements for mail-in ballots and ban 24-hour polling stations, drive-thru voting and ballot boxes, among other measures.

Critics say these changes will make it harder for people to vote and disproportionately affect people of color. Abbott has repeatedly defended the new measures, telling KVUE: “Anyone suggesting this is depriving anyone [of] the right to vote is simply wrong. “

Under Texas law, absent lawmakers can be arrested and compelled to attend the Legislature. In 2003, Democrats in the Legislature fled the state for Oklahoma and succeeded in preventing the passage of a redistribution plan.

Texas Democrats staged a walkout in May and were successful in preventing the passage of an earlier version of election legislation. However, lawmakers may have to stay out of Texas for weeks or more in order to prevent the current proposals from passing if Abbott continues to call special sessions as he has suggested.

The Texas Democratic Party released a statement on the walkout on Monday, saying: “After Democrats historically blocked Republicans’ anti-election efforts in the spring legislative session, Abbott called an irregular additional legislative session to resuscitate the Anti-election legislation – Republicans’ main hope to retain power in the 2022 election.

“In response to the escalating Republican attacks on voters, Democrats continue to hold the line,” the statement said.

News week asked the Texas Democratic Party for comment.