Thanks to John Miterko For This Information
House Regains Quorum as Democrats Return From Walkout
- For the first time in two weeks, the Texas House was able to gavel in with a quorum on Monday after enough Democrats returned from their out-of-state quorum break. Brandon Waltens has the story.
- The chamber had been unable to move forward with legislation since Democrats fled to Illinois and other states in protest of congressional redistricting plans.
- House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced that Democrats who had participated in the walkout would remain under close watch. According to Burrows, they will be escorted by Department of Public Safety officers to ensure their attendance. The full House is slated to return on Wednesday at 10 a.m., though committees have begun work.
- While Monday’s floor proceedings were brief, the return of a quorum has reignited debate about how to handle the Democrats who fled. Some Republican lawmakers have suggested stripping them of vice chairmanships and the added office budgets those positions provide, arguing that members who abandoned their duties should not continue to hold leadership posts.