Gryphon Gazette by David Ramirez and Nefertiti Garcia 3/12/2021
Texan-Republican member of the House of Representatives, Kyle Biedermann, filed Bill HB 1359 on January 26, 2021, which lays out plans to secede from the U.S. as an independent nation.
Also known as the “Texas Referendum Actâ€, Bill HB 1359 would allow Texas residents to “vote in a referendum on the question of whether this state should leave the United States of America and establish an independent republic,†in the November general election, according to Section 1.A of the bill. The bill also lays procedures for the best way for Texas to secede, how the state’s constitution is to be amended, and the appointment of new offices in the chance that this referendum gets voted on.
The plan for the “Texit Billâ€â€™ comes from Biedermann’s idea that the federal government does not align with or represent Texan values. Confirming that the Secession Bill is not a political argument, but Texans exercising their rights, Rep. Biedermann said that “This is not a left or right political issue. Let Texans vote!â€
Though more than 12,000 signatures have already been gathered by Texans in support of the bill, the Bill as stated by Rep. Biedermann would not create “immediate Independenceâ€, rather it exposes the idea of secession from the United States. In result, would put a referendum up for a vote that would allow for possible changes leading up to secession.
Texas has seceded once before in the past. In 1861, Texas was one of the 11 states that seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy prior to the Civil War, with that instance being a very violent one. The state rejoined the Union after the end of the Civil War in 1870.
Investigative Reporter Joshua Philipp has speculated what this bill could potentially mean for the United States of America as a whole in a video, notably mentioning the effect this would have on the Electoral College in future elections. “Democrats may actually support this,†he said. “If Texas were to secede from the Union, that is a whole lot of Electoral College votes leaving the federal elections, meaning that if Texas left the Union… pretty much there’d never be a Republican president ever again.â€
Philipp also talks about how, in order for Texas to actually establish an independent republic, they must do so either through revolution or through the votes of the remaining 49 states. He mentions that if the other states vote on allowing Texas to secede, it could lead to “a movement of multiple states, not just Texasâ€, referencing representatives of other states he knew to be planning to draft similar resolutions.
More:
https://gryphongazette.com/features/2021/03/12/texas-plans-for-secession-again/