Gov. Abbott calls 2nd Special Session

AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott called a second Special Session this past Saturday, but there is still no quorum in the Texas House of Representatives.

Four democrats did return from Washington D.C. and were in Austin Monday, but the necessary number of two-third of its member present for a quorum was still not reached.

The quorum is needed in order to debate and vote on legislation and with 150 representatives in the Texas House that means 100 members must be present. There were 57 House Democrats who originally left the state in order to break quorum.
Now, with 95 members back in Austin for the second special session only five more members are needed.

Returning from Washington were El Paso-area State Representatives Art Fierro, Mary Gonzalez and Joe Moody (the former speaker pro tem who had that title taken from him after he left Austin during the first special session last month), and Round Rock’s James Talarico. 

Talarico said on Twitter that he believed it was a productive time in Washington, but time to return to Texas to work on “real issues Texans face.”

Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie) issued a statement Monday regarding Special Session number two “Texas House Democrats continue in our fight to stop Texas Republicans’ efforts to undermine our democracy by passing their anti-voter legislation. Day by day, we will keep fighting with everything we have to protect Texans’ freedom to vote.”

Some democrats still in Washington D.C. were vocal Monday about the return of their colleagues and took to Twitter with their thoughts.

“You all threw us under the bus today! Why?” State Representative Ana-Maria Ramos of Dallas said on her Twitter account.

Abbott included 17 items on his second special session agenda and said, “The Texas Legislature achieved a great deal during the 87th Legislative Session, and they have a responsibility to finish the work that was started.”

Abbott also said he would continue to call “special session after special session to reform our broken bail system, uphold election integrity, and pass other important items that Texans demand and deserve. Passing these Special Session agenda items will chart a course towards a stronger and brighter future for the Lone Star State.”

Items on the agenda include:

BAIL REFORM

ELECTION INTEGRITY

FEDERAL RELIEF APPROPRIATIONS

EDUCATION

BORDER SECURITY

SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP

ARTICLE X FUNDING

FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION

YOUTH SPORTS

ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS

THIRTEENTH CHECK

CRITICAL RACE THEORY

APPROPRIATIONS

PRIMARY ELECTIONS

RADIOACTIVE WASTE

EMPLOYMENT

STATE LEGISLATURE

On the third day of the second session earlier this week, the procedural move to lock the doors not allowing members to leave without permission was also enacted.

A state district judge in the Austin area did say no to the arrest of House Democrats who left the state.

House Democrat State Representative Gina Hinojosa from Austin said on her Twitter Monday, “Quorum is still not met. Praying no other Democrats willingly go to floor.”

And, while the Texas House is not voting or debating issues, the Texas Senate is still in session and passing bills including an election bill, a bail reform bill and a bill for a tax break for new homebuyers.

However, without the presence of a quorum in the Texas House, these bills remain in limbo.