Texas Supreme Court may decide next plot twist in the Democratic walkout, and the fate of 2,100 stat

[Elderberry]

Texas Tribune by Reese Oxner July 21, 2021

Texas Supreme Court may decide next plot twist in the Democratic walkout, and the fate of 2,100 state employees

The state’s highest civil court has been asked to decide if Gov. Greg Abbott has the power to cut off funding for legislative staff, a move Abbott hoped would keep Democratic lawmakers from leaving the state and shutting down a special legislative session.

The Texas legislature is immobilized. The governor is fuming. And the next chapter in the gamesmanship that has engulfed Republican efforts to rewrite Texas voting laws may fall to the state’s third branch of government: the judiciary.

The Texas Supreme Court has been asked to rule whether Gov. Greg Abbott’s unprecedented line-item veto of Article X in the state budget — which pays for the Legislature and its staff — is constitutional.

Abbott issued the veto after the regular legislative session ended, pulling one of the few political levers at his disposal to try to force Democratic lawmakers to show up for a special session if they want their staffs to keep getting paid when the next fiscal year starts Sept. 1.

More: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/21/texas-supreme-court-democrats-walkout/

[IsailedawayfromFR]

How can this possibly be illegal?

He has the power to line item veto anything he wishes.

If the legislature does not like it, then get back in session and over-rule his veto.

It is the legislature's hands, not the courts.

[PeteS in CA]

Texas Supreme Court denies request to overturn Abbott veto of legislative funding

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/567057-texas-supreme-court-denies-request-to-overturn-abbott-veto-of

The Texas Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request from Texas state House Democrats to overturn Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) veto on funding for the state's legislature.

Filed in June, the petition argued that Abbott's veto was unconstitutional and violated the separation of powers between branches of government.

Abbott vetoed the legislature's funding after a group of state Democrats left Texas to prevent the passage of voting legislation that critics have said would limit voter access.
...
The Texas Supreme Court stated that it was not the place of the judicial branch to resolve arguments between the executive and legislative branches. It also argued that the Texas House Democrats had another opportunity to vote on legislative funding during the second special session that Abbott called, which commenced last week.

[Kamaji]

Texas Supreme Court denies request to overturn Abbott veto of legislative funding

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/567057-texas-supreme-court-denies-request-to-overturn-abbott-veto-of

Good.

[libertybele]

Could this possibly go all the way to SCOTUS?

[Free Vulcan]

Also from the article:

The Texas Supreme Court stated that it was not the place of the judicial branch to resolve arguments between the executive and legislative branches. It also argued that the Texas House Democrats had another opportunity to vote on legislative funding during the second special session that Abbott called, which commenced last week.

In other words - STHU and do your dang job, and quit running to us to settle your little cat fights.

[Free Vulcan]

The Texas Supreme Court denied a petition from Democratic lawmakers to restore funding to the state legislature Monday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) vetoed funding for the state legislature in June to withhold paychecks from Democratic lawmakers. Abbott took action after Democrats stalled Republican-backed legislation by refusing to attend votes on the bills, breaking quorum and blocking the Texas House from conducting business.

Soon after Abbott cut funding to the legislature, Democrats petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to intervene and overturn the governor’s veto of state funding. The court denied the request, saying that the fight Democrats asked the court to resolve is not between two coequal branches of government, but within one branch, namely the legislature, and outside of the court’s purview.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/abbott-wins-texas-supreme-court-denies-dem-lawmakers-request-to-restore-pay-after-walkout

[Kamaji]

Good job!

[mystery-ak]

Texas Supreme Court Allows Gov. Abbott to Punish Dems Who Fled State to Avoid Voting on Election Integrity Bill

The Texas Supreme Court handed Governor Greg Abbott a political victory on Monday, as his veto of provisions to fund the state legislature — including the salaries and benefits of 2,100 employees — held up in court.

The Texas Democrats had requested that the court overturn the governor’s veto of legislative funding in the forthcoming two-year state budget. The Texas Tribune provided background on the legal standoff.

“Abbott vetoed the funding in June after House Democrats walked out during the final days of the regular legislative session in May, killing two of his priority bills on elections and changing the state’s bail system,” the Tribune reported. “Abbott then brought the Legislature back for a special session to get the bills passed, but more than 50 House Democrats again broke quorum — denying the lower chamber of the number of present members needed to move bills — by decamping to Washington, D.C., until the 30-day session ended Friday.”

more
https://trendingpolitics.com/texas-supreme-court-allows-gov-abbott-to-punish-dems-who-fled-state-to-avoid-voting-on-election-integrity-bill-knab/

[Bigun]

Texas Supreme Court may decide next plot twist in the Democratic walkout, and the fate of 2,100 state employees

It's more than likely to be the people of Texas who settle the matter once and for all.

Texas state Republicans advance bill to prevent quorum breaks

[Free Vulcan]

Texas state Republicans advance bill to prevent quorum breaks

Apparently TX is only one of four states that require a 2/3rds quorum.

Supermajorities are fine for some things, but not for quorum. Should be a simple majority.