Yet Another Busted Quorum in the Texas House

[Elderberry]

Texas Scorecard by  Brandon Waltens   November 10, 2023

This is the third time in the last two weeks that the House has been frozen due to a lack of quorum.

Proceedings in the Texas House of Representatives have once again hit a stall, as members of the House failed to show up resulting in a lack of quorum.

The chamber’s rules require 100 members to be present in order to conduct business.

On Friday morning, only 99 members were present.

Those absent included a mix of Republicans and Democrats.

“34 Democrats out of 64, didn’t bother to show up,” State Rep. Steve Toth (R–The Woodlands) said in a video posted to social media. “And of course some Republicans as well.”

“Sadly there are too many Republicans on this list that did not bother to show up for their constitutionally mandated job performance today, where we still got border security bills to pass and education for the important work of the people of Texas,” State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian) added.

This is the third time in the last two weeks that the House has been frozen due to a lack of quorum.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/yet-another-busted-quorum-in-the-texas-house/

[Fishrrman]

Is there any mechanism in Texas for the governor to compel House members to attend?

If so, send the Texas Rangers after 'em, and "escort them" to the statehouse ...!

[Free Vulcan]

Curious as to when the primaries are down there.

[Hoodat]

Is there any mechanism in Texas for the governor to compel House members to attend?

If so, send the Texas Rangers after 'em, and "escort them" to the statehouse ...!

Yes.  It's been done before.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Is there any mechanism in Texas for the governor to compel House members to attend?

If so, send the Texas Rangers after 'em, and "escort them" to the statehouse ...!

Quorum should be a simple majority, period.

[Elderberry]

Curious as to when the primaries are down there.

Primaries are in March

[Free Vulcan]

Primaries are in March

Excellent. Keep calling those sessions, hopefully the opposition will take advantage.

[Elderberry]

Texas House, Republicans and Democrats, Refusing To Show Up For Special Session

Texas Scorecard by  Michael Quinn Sullivan November 11, 2023

Lawmakers accuse Speaker Phelan of encouraging the quorum bust.

In what has been a recurring theme for the Texas House under the leadership of Speaker Dade Phelan, members of the chamber refused to show up for business again on Saturday. This marks the fourth time in two weeks a quorum was not present to conduct business.

On Friday, 99 members recorded being present for business—but 100 are needed constitutionally. Seventeen of the absentee legislators were Republicans.

When Phelan tried to start business on Saturday morning, only a handful of lawmakers were present. Rather than call the roll, Phelan merely announced that the House would try again to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday.

On Saturday morning, Republican lawmakers Steve Toth, Tony Tinderholt, Brian Harrison, and Nate Schatzline said Phelan himself gave lawmakers permission to skip town.

“This is what’s being told to the members that it’s not important to be here today,” said Schatzline, repeating what Phelan was telling several dozen lawmakers on Friday. “We’re setting a dangerous precedent by breaking quorum as Republicans.”

As Tinderholt noted, members are paid $290 per day during the special session whether they are present or not.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-house-republicans-and-democrats-refusing-to-show-up-for-special-session/

[Bigun]

Is there any mechanism in Texas for the governor to compel House members to attend?

If so, send the Texas Rangers after 'em, and "escort them" to the statehouse ...!

Yes! There is such a mechanism but it must be initiated by the Speaker and unfortunately HE'S the one currently orchestrating this circus! @Fishrrman