Texas Gov. Abbott to call “special session after special session” to urge fugitive Democrats to consider passing a bill



[ad_1]

EXCLUSIVE: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will continue to call “special session after special session” in an effort to force Democrats to return to Texas to consider a voting reform bill, Fox News has learned.

“By leaving the state, Democrats ditched Texans and critical issues on the Special Session agenda to give property tax relief, fund our retired teachers, protect our kids with family d ‘welcome and secure our southern border, “said the governor’s press secretary, Renae Eze. told Fox News. “If they didn’t want to do their job of debating and voting on the issues, they shouldn’t have stood for election.”

“Governor Abbott will continue to work with members in Austin and fight for the future of our state, calling extraordinary session after extraordinary session to ensure passage of this crucial legislation,” she added.

TWO TEXAS DEMOCRATS ARRESTED BY CAPITOL POLICE IN PROTEST FOR VOTING RIGHTS

Abbott called a special session last month to force lawmakers to vote on a range of issues, including “election integrity” legislation.

In response, 57 of the State House’s Democratic lawmakers left Texas to deny Republicans the opportunity to form a quorum and blocked passage of the controversial ballot bill. Many Democrats may be considering staying on the sidelines.

With the special session set to expire on August 6, Democratic lawmakers are already preparing to extend their stay in Washington.

“Many of us are willing to extend our time in Washington and away from Austin,” State Representative Ron Reynolds told Fox News, but added it would mean “a great sacrifice” for lawmakers. from Texas.

“The biggest concern is that a lot of us have spouses and children,” Reynolds said. “We would be away from our families for a longer period of time. We have businesses or work for a living so that we can work as state lawmakers.”

Reynolds, along with U.S. Representative Al Green, D-Ga., Were arrested during a voting rights rally on Tuesday in front of the Supreme Court.

The Houston-based Democrat said he was protesting, along with more than 100 other state lawmakers across the country, to push the US Senate to pass federal voting initiatives such as the “For the People Act” and the “John Lewis” Voting Rights Advancement Act “. . “

DEMOCRATIC STATE OF TEXAS CZECH REP. DOMINGUEZ: WE ARE FIGHTING FOR SOMETHING BIGGER THAN US

Voting rights activists and Democrats have argued that federal legislation would prevent states from tightening voting regulations they say target black and brown communities. Texas Republicans argue the laws would only secure the elective process.

“My goal was to use my platform,” Reynolds said. “We’re running out of time.”

Democrats in the US Senate failed to push forward the For the People Act earlier this summer, after a 50-50 split vote blocked their calls to open a debate on legislation passed in the House in March.

Democrats are now seeking to advance the “John Lewis Advancement Voting Rights Act.”

Reynolds said he couldn’t speak for his fellow Texas lawmakers, but said he believed the “majority” of his party members would stay in the nation’s capital until federal legislation on the vote affects President Biden’s office.

It’s unclear at this time how many lawmakers will stay in Washington, but at least 51 State Democrats are expected to stay to prevent Texas House lawmakers from reaching a quorum.

State Representative Shawn Thierry said she will not be returning to Texas, while Representative Carl Sherman said, “I can’t say what tomorrow brings.”

“My plans are aimed at serving the interests of my constituent’s most precious privilege to be able to participate in our democracy,” he added.

State Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins echoed Reynold’s sentiments and told Fox News she would “under no circumstances” consider returning to Texas to establish a quorum.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“My ancestors and my mothers died so that we could vote, I cannot participate in voter intimidation and voter criminalization,” she said. “We have been told that in 2020 some of the safest elections have taken place across this country, so I will not participate in the destruction of things that I think are correct.”

“We understand that this is a movement, not just an action. And within this movement, we plan to stay until the end.”

[ad_2]

Source link