One down, where are the other 56 warrants? I wouldn't want anyone accusing the House of playing favorites, or in this case, racism.Syntyr wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 3:37 pm Finally but too little too late...
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- Tue Jul 27, 2021 8:24 pm
- Forum: General Legislative Discussions
- Topic: Dem lawmakers fleeing Texas
- Replies: 77
- Views: 42151
Re: Dem lawmakers fleeing Texas
- Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Forum: General Legislative Discussions
- Topic: Dem lawmakers fleeing Texas
- Replies: 77
- Views: 42151
Re: Dem lawmakers fleeing Texas
I think that we could change the quorum to be a simple majority of the elected members , as in 50% +1. This would be the same as the Democrats eliminating the filibuster as it lets the majority party do what it wants.clarionite wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:09 pmI think a few changes need to be made. Redefine the rules of quorum as whatever percentage needed for passage out of those members that bothered to show up during session. So they couldn't block things by leaving. And second, those that leave should be removed from office and not permitted to hold office again. And of course, those that leave to keep from performing their duties should be stripped of their pay also, and possibly a fine.
But I do want to point out that this could really bite us later. Republicans will not always be the majority party in Texas. We need to be very careful of the changes we make to stop them from being used against us in the future. The Republicans did this with nominations after the Democrats removed the filibuster on them. I have never understood why the Republicans did not raise the filibuster back up to 67 for everything when they had the votes to do so. And that raises the real problem with us changing the quorum. It is written in the Texas Constitution (Article 3, Section 10). The filibuster is just a Senate rule that can be changed any time by a vote of the Senate. It takes a lot more to change the quorum rule for Texas.
- Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:33 pm
- Forum: General Legislative Discussions
- Topic: Dem lawmakers fleeing Texas
- Replies: 77
- Views: 42151
Re: Dem lawmakers fleeing Texas
Interestingly, here is the rule on arresting the legislators who bugged out:
Even more interesting is that it takes a majority of the house to vote to release them from the arrest. Could we convince the Republicans to hold them until the end of the next session?
There is one good point to this. The governor had used the line veto option to eliminate all budget money for the legislature beginning Sep. 1. That bill has not yet passed the special session. It cannot be passed until they return for a quorum. The funny part is that this veto included agencies like the Legislative Budget Board. I hate to see the employees lose their jobs, but I love to see that we are not spending any money on these people who fled the state.
What I found most interesting is that the rule says the arrest may take place wherever they are found but so far everyone says it must be in Texas. I am guessing that this is because there is no set penalty attached and SCOTUS has ruled only felonies may cause an arrest out of state. That would also be why they left the state instead of just hiding in state or having to flee the country.Section 8. Securing a Quorum
When a call of the house is moved for one of the above purposes and seconded by 15 members (of whom the speaker may be one) and ordered by a majority vote, the main entrance to the hall and all other doors leading out of the hall shall be locked and no member permitted to leave the house without the written permission of the speaker. The names of members present shall be recorded. All absentees for whom no sufficient excuse is made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent for and arrested, wherever they may be found, by the sergeant-at-arms or an officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms for that purpose, and their attendance shall be secured and retained. The house shall determine on what conditions they shall be discharged. Members who voluntarily appear shall, unless the house otherwise directs, be immediately admitted to the hall of the house and shall report their names to the clerk to be entered in the journal as present.
Until a quorum appears, should the roll call fail to show one present, no business shall be transacted, except to compel the attendance of absent members or to adjourn. It shall not be in order to recess under a call of the house.
Even more interesting is that it takes a majority of the house to vote to release them from the arrest. Could we convince the Republicans to hold them until the end of the next session?
There is one good point to this. The governor had used the line veto option to eliminate all budget money for the legislature beginning Sep. 1. That bill has not yet passed the special session. It cannot be passed until they return for a quorum. The funny part is that this veto included agencies like the Legislative Budget Board. I hate to see the employees lose their jobs, but I love to see that we are not spending any money on these people who fled the state.
- Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:10 pm
- Forum: General Legislative Discussions
- Topic: Dem lawmakers fleeing Texas
- Replies: 77
- Views: 42151
Re: Dem lawmakers fleeing Texas
I thought the Dems were opposed to foreign interference in our political processes.