After having fled the state over redistricting legislation, Democratic lawmakers had to agree to have security escorts to leave the chamber. Now, a number are refusing.
A group of Texas Democrats are returning to the state House in Austin where they will spend the night — the latest step in a broader protest over Republican plans to redraw congressional districts in the state.
The state House Democratic caucus said in a news release that eight of its members will return to the floor Tuesday evening, “publicly tearing up the permission slips required by Republicans for members to leave the chamber.”
The Democrats will join state Rep. Nicole Collier, their colleague who has remained locked in the state House chamber since Monday afternoon after she refused the condition of a security escort to leave the chamber.
What a fun performance! The Republicans will surely rue this day, just like they did when Joe Biden appointed Merrick Garland to run the Department of Justice.
What are they even being policed for? The session the warrants were issued for is over and they returned to the state house. There’s nothing more to be done in that order. What happens if they leave without agreeing to escort? Will they be arrested? For what?