Abbott explained in his memo. The Texas Constitution says that when the governor calls a special session, legislators SHALL convene. They fled specifically to obstruct the business of the House, which is a dereliction of duty and a crime.
If they do not return they vacate their seat? Why arrest them and force them in their seats? They want to be the victim again. Why not stop them from returning to vacate their seats, there has to be a way to expedite the vote with those who go AWOL.
I know… most don’t know the 1st Amendment and we live by feelings. The horrible fascist in a wheel chair —- at some point the Republicans have to stop this nonsense.
IMO if their seats are vacated as you outline, they should also be arrested. Or, the arrest should "fire them from their job" at the same time since "you cannot have a criminal record and do this line of work".
Further, how would you justify to tax payers that these peoples' salaries are worth it if they're not going to do their jobs? They're not paid hourly are they?
Politicians are all bark and no bite type of dogs.
Say what sounds good on Monday, let the stories run all week on their Soros funded news outlets, then back to usual on the weekend.... "$60,000 hotdog and pizza parties."
There could be emergency appointments/elections or create an amendment to the Texas Constitution they any Legislators doing this would automatically be declared in Default.
I guess I don't understand how it's not like the house and Senate where if you aren't there to vote, fuck you. You miss out. This "we can't take a vote because not everyone is here" is bullshit.
I believe they have to have 101 House members for a quorum, the Republicans have 88. 51 Dems ran away to blue states. It's either their law or the rules that were passed.
Since the AWOL Dems didn't return by the 3pm deadline today (Aug. 4th), the TX state House passed a motion issuing ARREST WARRANTS for the fleeing Dem legislators.
They didn't waste any time either. The vote held by our TX House Speaker must have happened right after at 3:00pm (Gov. Abbott's deadline for the missing Dems to return). The TX state House vote was 85 to 6 in favor of issuing arrest warrants for the AWOL Dem Reps.
This video of the TX House Speaker talking about the vote's outcome was posted at 3:14pm CT today:
So I wonder how this particular vote took place in the TX state House today (8/4) with only 91 members present since that number doesn't meet the 2/3 'quorum' threshold (which is such a ridiculous rule in the first place). Maybe there's some type of 'emergency' rule that kicks in or a work-around of some kind? I dunno.
When none came back, Republican leaders authorized law enforcement to bring them in 'by any means necessary.'
'The sergeant‑at‑arms and any appointed officers are directed to send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused, and to secure and maintain their attendance under warrant of arrest if necessary,' House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Republican from Lubbock announced.
Also saw a blurb that the AWOL Dems gang flew to Illinois on a PRIVATE chartered jet (allegedly with their FAMILIES too). Sounds very coordinated & possibly a long-term absence?
Oh, and this is interesting... Gov. Abbott is also throwing around allegations that this Dem legislators stunt is a possible BRIBERY situation - where these TX legislators may have taken money to go AWOL to prevent this Congressional map redistricting vote from being held.
Governor Abbott confirmed that Texas House Democrats who remain absent and refuse to vote on the newly proposed GOP-backed congressional map could be prosecuted for second‑degree felony bribery estimates, or see their seats forcibly vacated and special elections called.
“So, very simply, it would be bribery if any lawmaker took money to perform—or to refuse to perform—an act in the legislature. And the reports are these legislators have been both… they sought money, and they offered money to skip the vote, to leave the legislature, to take a legislative act. That would be bribery. And so, the facts will have to come out. But I think, based upon comments made by legislators themselves, they face a possibility of facing bribery charges, which is a second-degree felony in the state of Texas,” Abbott told Fox News host Dana Perino.
Not if you arrest them for deliberately preventing quorum in such a way as to obstruct government without any semblance of active participation (filibustering).
Removing quorum empowers the minority to get away with things they shouldn’t be allowed to do. Lack of quorum is how we got the federal reserve.
The moves that are being made are the right moves. What you are discussing is not.
I cant make up my mind as to whats worse, being returned to TX to spend time in prison there, or having to hide out and cower in Pritzkers Illinois for some indeterminate time.
Both are prisons, what a perfect giant douche and turd sandwich political dichotomy.
We need to get quorum applied to elections, too. They shouldn't ever be able to hold off-season, poorly announced elections where they shove $400,000,000 bonds down the throats of 28,000 people based off of a 375 vote turnout, or overturn a school board based on a total 15% of the population showing up and a 2% win margin.
Alright Abbott, do what you said you were going to do.
Honestly wasn’t expecting them to actually go through with it and issue Arrest Warrants
This should have been done the first time this happened! 🤬
Hope it holds , but u know republicans .
Can TX hire bounty hunters with explicit instructions?:
They will send a posse if they’re serious.
Can someone eli5 why is it illegal for them to do this? How’s it different than if they just call in sick
Abbott explained in his memo. The Texas Constitution says that when the governor calls a special session, legislators SHALL convene. They fled specifically to obstruct the business of the House, which is a dereliction of duty and a crime.
It looks like there’s a legal basis for this:
https://texaslegalguide.com/Texas_Constitution:Article_III,_Section_10
It also looks like Dems in Texas have been fleeing losing votes to bust quorum for 45 years.
Thanks AE!
Isn't that what those crybabies do when things don't go their way? I seem to recall a number of other instances of the runaway legislators...
Always 'rats.
Exactly!
If they do not return they vacate their seat? Why arrest them and force them in their seats? They want to be the victim again. Why not stop them from returning to vacate their seats, there has to be a way to expedite the vote with those who go AWOL.
I know… most don’t know the 1st Amendment and we live by feelings. The horrible fascist in a wheel chair —- at some point the Republicans have to stop this nonsense.
IMO if their seats are vacated as you outline, they should also be arrested. Or, the arrest should "fire them from their job" at the same time since "you cannot have a criminal record and do this line of work".
Further, how would you justify to tax payers that these peoples' salaries are worth it if they're not going to do their jobs? They're not paid hourly are they?
Interesting.hypothetically speaking and possibly true. They were all recruited to do one task. Destroy the republic from within.
How they were recruited was from being blackmailed. Maybe some volunteered too.
The people they represent are mostly non humans. Sure there is a few and sure there is many payed.
I don’t know is it really hypothetical and mostly plausible?
NOW REMOVE THEM FROM OFFICE AS PROMISED! But, Abbott won't - he's a spineless political windsock with a big mouth.
He better grow a spine! We voted for Lt. Col. Allen West...
Please show the pics of them in handcuffs ASAP.
In before someone says "trust the plan."
Politicians are all bark and no bite type of dogs.
Say what sounds good on Monday, let the stories run all week on their Soros funded news outlets, then back to usual on the weekend.... "$60,000 hotdog and pizza parties."
This is civil arrest warrants by the House, different, obviously than criminal which hopefully comes from Governor Abbott.
FAFO Texas style!!!!
You bet! 💥
If the minority runs out, the elected majority would be prevented from doing the People's business!
There could be emergency appointments/elections or create an amendment to the Texas Constitution they any Legislators doing this would automatically be declared in Default.
I guess I don't understand how it's not like the house and Senate where if you aren't there to vote, fuck you. You miss out. This "we can't take a vote because not everyone is here" is bullshit.
I believe they have to have 101 House members for a quorum, the Republicans have 88. 51 Dems ran away to blue states. It's either their law or the rules that were passed.
Since the AWOL Dems didn't return by the 3pm deadline today (Aug. 4th), the TX state House passed a motion issuing ARREST WARRANTS for the fleeing Dem legislators.
https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/08/04/new-texas-house-passes-arrest-warrants-for-democrats-who-fled-to-illinois-to-deny-quorum-n2192440#google_vignette
They didn't waste any time either. The vote held by our TX House Speaker must have happened right after at 3:00pm (Gov. Abbott's deadline for the missing Dems to return). The TX state House vote was 85 to 6 in favor of issuing arrest warrants for the AWOL Dem Reps.
This video of the TX House Speaker talking about the vote's outcome was posted at 3:14pm CT today:
https://twittercom/i/status/1952463279458226305
So I wonder how this particular vote took place in the TX state House today (8/4) with only 91 members present since that number doesn't meet the 2/3 'quorum' threshold (which is such a ridiculous rule in the first place). Maybe there's some type of 'emergency' rule that kicks in or a work-around of some kind? I dunno.
Here's some other tidbits...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14970249/Texas-signs-ARREST-warrants-Democrats-private-jet-stunt-lawmakers-reveal-theyre-run-children.html
Excerpt:
When none came back, Republican leaders authorized law enforcement to bring them in 'by any means necessary.'
'The sergeant‑at‑arms and any appointed officers are directed to send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused, and to secure and maintain their attendance under warrant of arrest if necessary,' House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Republican from Lubbock announced.
Also saw a blurb that the AWOL Dems gang flew to Illinois on a PRIVATE chartered jet (allegedly with their FAMILIES too). Sounds very coordinated & possibly a long-term absence?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14970249/Texas-signs-ARREST-warrants-Democrats-private-jet-stunt-lawmakers-reveal-theyre-run-children.html
Oh, and this is interesting... Gov. Abbott is also throwing around allegations that this Dem legislators stunt is a possible BRIBERY situation - where these TX legislators may have taken money to go AWOL to prevent this Congressional map redistricting vote from being held.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/08/showdown-texas-democrats-wont-return-deadline-as-gov/
Excerpt from this GP article:
Governor Abbott confirmed that Texas House Democrats who remain absent and refuse to vote on the newly proposed GOP-backed congressional map could be prosecuted for second‑degree felony bribery estimates, or see their seats forcibly vacated and special elections called.
“So, very simply, it would be bribery if any lawmaker took money to perform—or to refuse to perform—an act in the legislature. And the reports are these legislators have been both… they sought money, and they offered money to skip the vote, to leave the legislature, to take a legislative act. That would be bribery. And so, the facts will have to come out. But I think, based upon comments made by legislators themselves, they face a possibility of facing bribery charges, which is a second-degree felony in the state of Texas,” Abbott told Fox News host Dana Perino.
It’s called “quorum”.
Understood but if you're the minority, this is what happens.
Democrats had no issues fucking over multiple states when they held the majority. But it's (D)ifferernt
You called requiring quorum “bullshit”. It’s not. You want quorum.
I want politicians to show up and do the job they were elected to do.
Quorum allows the minority to hamstring the majority
Not if you arrest them for deliberately preventing quorum in such a way as to obstruct government without any semblance of active participation (filibustering).
Removing quorum empowers the minority to get away with things they shouldn’t be allowed to do. Lack of quorum is how we got the federal reserve.
The moves that are being made are the right moves. What you are discussing is not.
I haven't seen any of them get arrested yet.
If only something comes of this. But, the Democrats nearly always get their way. So, wheels see what happens. Wink, wink.
I cant make up my mind as to whats worse, being returned to TX to spend time in prison there, or having to hide out and cower in Pritzkers Illinois for some indeterminate time.
Both are prisons, what a perfect giant douche and turd sandwich political dichotomy.
Keklarious! 😹
Awesome!
Pass the popcorn.
OK, OK, OK cool! Now, let's follow through on this.
Wonder if this will become a trend 😉
https://nitter.net/DPerreaultTV/status/1952462063105917138
A Quorum was not present! FAFO! 💥
We need to get quorum applied to elections, too. They shouldn't ever be able to hold off-season, poorly announced elections where they shove $400,000,000 bonds down the throats of 28,000 people based off of a 375 vote turnout, or overturn a school board based on a total 15% of the population showing up and a 2% win margin.
It’s all shenanigans and they know it.
Exactly AE!
As much as I don't like what they're doing, I don't think it's illegal. They should just have their votes forfeited or something.