We saw this exact same strategy play out in Wisconsin circa 2011 when the Democrats in state legislature fled the state to avoid showing up to a legislative session. They left the state specifically to avoid state police arresting them and forcibly returning them to work. This is how Democrats operate.
In Texas the milk-carton Democrats do not have the numbers to block legislation; however, they can deny a legislative quorum by not showing up to work. The Democrats took buses to a private airport where they took private charter flights to Washington DC; all of their manipulative schemes paid for by Democrat activist groups. The cases of beer on the seats is a nice touch.
Meanwhile, Texas citizens are paying taxes to fund the salaries of officials who refuse to come to work.
Texas TRIBUNE – […] “We are now taking the fight to our nation’s Capitol,” the Democrats said in their statement. “We are living on borrowed time in Texas.”
The Democrats convened at a local plumbers union building and boarded a bus that transported them to a private airport terminal. They arrived at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport shortly after 2:30 p.m., driving straight onto the tarmac.
Lawmakers did not speak with the media before they left. Terminal staff kept reporters off the premises and on the street outside. By 3 p.m., several supporters of the legislators were gathered outside the terminal, holding signs that said, “Let my people vote,” and, “Thank you for fighting voter suppression.”
Even if Democratic lawmakers stay out of state for the next few weeks, the governor could continue to call 30-day sessions or add voting restrictions to the agenda when the Legislature takes on the redrawing of the state’s political maps later this summer. (read more)
They appear to be very proud of themselves.
Of course, Texas officials could play hardball, but they won’t.
The Texas AG could issue subpoenas post them to each office-holder for 72 hrs, then the state governor Greg Abbott could issue XO arrest warrants for non-compliance. It won’t happen because those running the state of Texas are purple, not red (it’s an open secret down there). Texas is not as conservative as people think; exactly the opposite is true… just review their conduct during COVID.
Texas is to Republican as Republican is to Mitch McConnell.