Texas Democrats who left the state to stymie Republicans over redistricting have returned to Austin, ending a two-week standoff over President Donald Trump’s plan to carve out 5 new GOP congressional seats.
Their return to the state means the Texas Home now has the adequate variety of legislators wanted to go a brand new map benefiting the GOP. Democrats had used the gambit to stall legislative enterprise and convey nationwide consideration to Republicans’ resolution to pursue off-cycle redistricting forward of the midterms.
In an announcement, the Texas Home Democratic Caucus stated that members returned on Monday morning “to launch the next phase in their fight against the racist gerrymander that provoked a weeks-long standoff with Governor [Greg] Abbott and President Trump.”
The drama in Texas set off a nationwide redistricting battle, most prominently with California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowing to retaliate in opposition to Texas Republicans by extracting an equal variety of Democratic-leaning districts from California’s congressional map. Trump has additionally been pushing to take his redistricting plan to different Republican-led states, like Indiana and Missouri.
After Democrats returned to the state capitol, the Home gaveled into session Monday afternoon with sufficient members to make quorum and conduct official enterprise for the primary time in weeks. The map and different laws now heads to committees earlier than the session resumes Wednesday.
That prompted yet another public present of drive from the GOP: Home Speaker Dustin Burrows on Monday assigned state legislation enforcement officers to escort the returned Democrats over the following two days, making certain they arrive again to Austin on Wednesday. Texas Republican leaders had beforehand approved Division of Public Security officers to canvass the state and stationed them exterior lawmakers’ houses whereas they had been exterior the state.
Texas Democrats debated how lengthy to steer clear of the state, however finally laid out two situations for his or her return: that the legislature finish its first particular session and that California lawmakers introduce their very own map granting Democrats 5 extra seats to counter Texas. Each of these occurred on Friday, prompting the Texas lawmakers to start out returning dwelling.
By breaking quorum, the members racked up tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} in fines. It additionally set off a authorized struggle introduced by Abbott and Lawyer Normal Ken Paxton, who sought to take away among the Democrats from workplace.
Support for Central Texas flood victims was held up by the standoff. Republicans put redistricting first on the legislative calendar, forward of catastrophe reduction concerns — a transfer that Democrats referred to as out as irresponsible. The GOP, in response, argued that Democrats had been delaying that reduction by remaining out of state.
Abbott had promised to proceed calling particular classes after the primary one ended, starting with a second one which started on Friday — a transfer that added to the stress he and different GOP leaders exerted on Democrats to finish their protest.
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