Texas Governor Calls Second Special Legislative Session

Governor Greg Abbott, the Republican leader of Texas, announced on Tuesday that he will convene a second special session of the Texas Legislature. This comes as lawmakers are grappling with a crucial voting issue.

To proceed with legislative initiatives, a quorum of 100 out of the 150 state legislators must be present. However, 51 Texas Democrats have fled the state to prevent a vote on a newly drawn congressional district map. Abbott’s determination to call more sessions suggests that Democratic efforts to halt these costly redistricting efforts may not be effective, especially since lawmakers who skip sessions face daily fines of $500. Abbott has the authority to call unlimited sessions.

According to Abbott, the upcoming special session will focus on the same redistricting topics as the current one, but may also include additional issues aligned with his “Texas First Agenda.” He emphasized, “There’s no reprieve for a derelict Democrat who fled the nation and abandoned their obligations to those who elected them.”

Abbott made it clear that if there’s no quorum on Friday, the second special session would start immediately after the current one concludes. He’s prepared to keep calling special sessions until his agenda is fully implemented. “I’m allowed to call a special session every 30 days,” he stated. “If they want to avoid arrest, they might have to stay outside of Texas for an extended period.”

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also commented on the situation on social media, insisting that the Texas Senate will pass the remaining bills on Abbott’s agenda before Friday. He mentioned the imperative for Democrats to return and fulfill their responsibilities.

Many Texas House Democrats left the state on August 2, seeking refuge in states like Illinois and New York to circumvent the legislative process. Since then, Abbott has threatened to arrest any lawmakers who return, and legal actions have been initiated against them.

The Texas Democratic Party has been actively involved in opposing the redistricting efforts, with members participating in events in California alongside prominent Democratic figures. They argue that the consequences of losing legislative control could be significant. Governor Gavin Newsom has reached out to the White House about potential responses to the Texas situation, expressing concerns about the broader implications of the proposed congressional map.