Can Texas really arrest House Democrats after flight to D.C.? Yes. Here's how.

[Elderberry]

Houston Chronicle by Monique Welch 7/13/2021

What started as a threat from the governor could become a promise.

After Texas House Democrats left the state Monday for Washington D.C. to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass their controversial “election integrity” bill, Gov. Greg Abbott said in an interview with Austin TV station KVUE, if they don’t show up to vote in Austin, he will have them arrested.

    I can and I will continue to call a special session after special session after special session all the way up until (the) election next year. And so if these people want to be hanging out wherever they're hanging out on this taxpayer-paid junket, they're going to have to be prepared to do it for well over a year. As soon as they come back in the state of Texas, they will be arrested, they will be cabined inside the Texas Capitol until they get their job done.

It's not quite as simple as that, however.

As governor, Abbott cannot issue the warrant. That duty is reserved for the Speaker of the House, according to the Texas House of Rules.

When a call of the house is moved to secure and maintain a quorum for the consideration of a specific bill, and is seconded by 15 members and ordered by a majority vote, “all absentees for whom no sufficient excuse is made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent for and arrested, wherever they may be found, by the sergeant-at-arms or an officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms,” according to House Rule five on floor procedure.

The House voted to do just that on Tuesday.

More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Can-Texas-really-arrest-House-Democrats-after-16312142.php

[Elderberry]

Texas House issues call to round up Democrats who fled to DC to block voting restrictions

Houston Chronicle by Taylor Goldenstein 7/13/2021

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Texas-House-issues-call-to-round-up-Democrats-who-16311426.php

The Texas House on Tuesday voted to order law enforcement authorities to retrieve dozens of Democratic lawmakers who fled to Washington, D.C. to block a vote on election legislation they are calling voter suppression.

When the House was gaveled in Tuesday, just 80 members out of 150 were present. As permitted by House rules approved by all members at the start of the session, state Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, made a “call of the House.” More than 15 members seconded and a majority voted in favor of sending authorities after the departed lawmakers.

Just after the vote, authorities locked the doors to the chamber and all doors leading out of it. No one was allowed to leave without written permission from the speaker.

Four Democrats who were present on the floor voted against the measure: state Reps. Ryan Guillen, of Rio Grande City; Tracy King, of Batesville; Eddie Morales, Jr, of Eagle Pass and John Turner, of Dallas. Two Democrats, Reps. Terry Canales of Edinburg, and Abel Herrero of Robstown, had requested excused absences.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

The beer junkies traveling to DC on the DNC private jet just sealed their own fates.

Abbott needed this to ensure re-election against two conservative rivals.

[Free Vulcan]

I wonder if Abbott calls enough special sessions that the seats can be called vacant and special elections held.

[dfwgator]

They don't have the guts to do it.

[AARguy]

Anyone have any ideas about how we can get all the remaining Democrats in Texas to get on planes taking them out of the state... for good?