(The Center Square) – Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest 56 Democrats who absconded from their duties in Austin on Sunday and weren’t present when the House convened on Monday.
“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,” Abbott said. “By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief. There are consequences for dereliction of duty.
“Speaker Dustin Burrows just issued a call of the Texas House and issued warrants to compel members to return to the chamber. To ensure compliance, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans. This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol.”
At 3 p.m. Monday, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gaveled in the Texas House of Representatives. Members registered and a quorum was not reached. Only six of 62 Democrats showed up.
On Sunday, House Democrats left the state in opposition to Texas redistricting efforts. Abbott ordered them to return or face being arrested or removed from office, The Center Square reported.
As of Monday afternoon, 56 Democrats were MIA.
Burrows thanked the six Democrats who were there.
“Those who answered the call honored their oath and came here ready to work for the people of Texas,” he said. “Your presence speaks volumes. You understand that the issues before us, disaster recovery, fighting for the families who lost loved ones in the floods, human trafficking and more, are not abstract policy debates. They are real world problems demanding immediate solutions.
“But instead of confronting those challenges, some of our colleagues have fled the state and their duty. They’ve left the state, abandoned their posts, and turned their backs on the constituents they swore to represent. They’ve shirked their responsibilities under the direction of pressure of out-of-state politicians and activists who don’t know the first thing about what’s right for Texas.”
He also said that House business would continue.
“To be absolutely clear, leaving the state does not stop this House from doing its work. It only delays it. Every day this chamber is unable to act, the cost grows,” he added, because the legislature is convened for a 30-day special session. Any matters that aren’t finished would be taken up in a second special session called by the governor.
“In response to this dereliction of duty and pursuant to the rules of the House,” Burrows said he would recognize a motion to place a call on the House “and any other motions necessary to compel the return of absent members. Should such a motion prevail, I will immediately sign the warrants for the civil arrest of the members who have said they will not be here.”
Both motions were made by Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Lake Worth, and both prevailed. The motion for a call on the House was seconded in writing by more than 15 members. It passed by a recorded vote of 86-6. Burrows ordered the call and for the door keeper to lock the doors of the House chamber.
Geren’s motion to have the sergeant-at-arms send for all absentee Democrats also passed by a recorded vote of 85-6. Burrows then directed the sergeant at arms “to send for all absentees under warrant of arrest if necessary.”
“As Speaker, I will do everything in my power to establish quorum and move this body forward by any means available to this office,” Burrows said.
He also issued a warning to House Democrats: “To those who are absent, return now. Show the courage to face the issues you were elected to solve. Come back and fulfill your duty because this House will not sit quietly while you obstruct the work of the people. The people of Texas are watching and so is the nation. And if you choose to continue down this road, you should know there will be consequences.”
In 2021, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that absent House members could be arrested to secure their presence and establish a quorum, The Center Square reported.
Abbott has also argued that Democrats who left forfeited their seats and allegedly committed felonies through fundraising efforts, The Center Square reported.
The House was adjourned and called to reconvene on at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
