The Republican House speaker said that he would sign civil arrest warrants to track the lawmakers down amid a fight over redistricting.
The Texas House of Representatives voted 85–6 to arrest dozens of Democratic state lawmakers who weren’t present when the House went into session on Monday afternoon. The vote comes in the midst of a fight over congressional districts.
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows said on the floor he would immediately sign civil arrest warrants for the Democratic legislators who weren’t there.
Burrows said on the Texas House floor on Monday that “in response to this dereliction of duty, and pursuant to the rules of the House, I am prepared to recognize a motion to place a call on the House and any other motions necessary to compel the return of absent members.”
“Should such a motion prevail, I will immediately sign the warrants for the civil arrest of the members who have said they will not be here,” he said.
In words directed at the Democrats, he said: “Come back and fulfill your duty, because this House will not sit quietly, while you obstruct the work of the people. The people of Texas are watching. And so is the nation. And if you choose to continue down this road, you should know there will be consequences.”
Minutes after his speech, a motion passed in the Texas House to send out arrest warrants to Democrats who left the state.
A number of Democrats left Texas for Illinois and were welcomed by Gov. JB Pritzker, also a Democrat, while some are in Massachusetts or New York state, said officials. Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, warned that he could remove the Democrats who left the state from office.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement: “I am prepared to do everything in my power to hold them accountable because these liberal lawmakers are not above the law. It’s imperative that they be swiftly arrested, punished, and face the full force of the law for turning their backs on the people of Texas.”
The 150-member Texas House requires a quorum of two-thirds of its members, or 100 legislators, to conduct business. The absence of at least 51 Democratic lawmakers means the Republican-dominated House was unable to move forward with legislation.
