After exodus over GOP voting bill, enough Democrats return to Texas House to resume work

[Elderberry]

KBTX by JAMES BARRAGÁN 8/19/2021

For the first time in nearly six weeks, enough lawmakers were present in the Texas House on Thursday for the chamber to conduct business — opening the door for the passage of the GOP priority elections bill that prompted Democrats to flee the state in July in an effort to shut down the legislation.

The GOP elections bill would, among other things, outlaw local voting options intended to expand voting access and bolster access for partisan poll watchers. Democrats and voting rights advocates say it restricts voting rights in the state. Republicans, who control both chambers of the Legislature, say the proposal is intended to secure “election integrity.”

Democrats first orchestrated a plan in May to kill the voting legislation when they walked out of the House chamber in the final hours of the regular legislative session, preventing final passage before the clock ran out.

Abbott responded by calling a 30-day special session that began in July. That led to more than 50 Democrats leaving Texas to camp out in Washington, D.C. — away from the reach of Texas law enforcement officials — for several weeks.

More: https://www.kbtx.com/2021/08/19/after-exodus-over-gop-voting-bill-enough-democrats-return-texas-house-resume-work/?fr=operanews

[Elderberry]

Quorum Finally Reached in Texas House. Will It Remain?

Texas Scorecard by Jeramy Kitchen August 19, 2021

https://texasscorecard.com/state/quorum-finally-reached-in-texas-house-will-it-remain/

Ending a paralysis that lasted 37 days, the House was finally able to convene and refer bills to committees.

Meanwhile, the Senate has largely worked through the items on the special session agenda twice.

No doubt, the current situation remains tenuous. The political calculus surrounding the order in which the House considers bills will likely be the deciding factor, assuming that Republican leadership continues to be reluctant to prevent the same lawmakers from busting quorum again.

After establishing that a quorum existed, the House then adjourned until 4 p.m. on Monday, August 23.

Seventeen days remain in the second called special legislative session.

[Cyber Liberty]

"Seventeen days remain in the second called special legislative session."

It only takes an hour or two to pass the horrible, mean, rotten, racist bill.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Chain them to their desks, with a cot and blanket close by.

The Senate has piled up an impressive stack of approved bills for the House to act upon.

Let's get going, Phelan.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

"Seventeen days remain in the second called special legislative session."

It only takes an hour or two to pass the horrible, mean, rotten, racist bill.

So with 12 hours sessions, we can get 12 x 17 or 204 bills.

So let's add a few more to the stack - how about a bill permitting Texas secession on the November ballot as a start?

[Idiot]

So with 12 hours sessions, we can get 12 x 17 or 204 bills.

So let's add a few more to the stack - how about a bill permitting Texas secession on the November ballot as a start?

[Cyber Liberty]

So with 12 hours sessions, we can get 12 x 17 or 204 bills.

So let's add a few more to the stack - how about a bill permitting Texas secession on the November ballot as a start?

It depends on where the bill is in the system.  If all debate was concluded, and the Rats walked out on the final passage, then that can come up for an immediate vote.  A new bill would start from scratch.