Credit: State of Texas Democratic Conference
Texas-State-Democrats
Austin, TX (77WABC) — More political drama within the chambers of the Texas state legislature — after a voting reform bill did not get voted on — before the end of session deadline.
All throughout this Memorial Day holiday weekend, both state Democratic and state, Republican lawmakers battled in session. Democrats pulled off a dramatic, last-ditch walkout in the Texas House of Representatives on Sunday night, to block one of the most restrictive voting laws in the U.S. from passing before a midnight deadline.
BREAKING: Texas House Democrats break quorum and kill SB 7.
"We had no choice but to take extraordinary measures to protect our constituents and their right to vote." @ChrisGTurner https://t.co/CgAYHJDIFG#txlege
— Texas House Democrats (@TexasHDC) May 31, 2021
The small political coop torpedoed the sweeping measure, which would have reduced polling hours, empowered poll watchers, and scaled back ways to vote in Texas. The state already has some of the nation’s strictest voting laws.
“They were prepared to cut us off and try to silence us. We were not going to let them do that. And that’s why Democrats used the last tool available to us. We denied them the quorum that they need to pass this bill and we killed that bill,” said State Representative Chris Turner (D-TX)
Full statement here: https://t.co/xDz3JwvoPP pic.twitter.com/cSQ8ux2xjv
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 31, 2021
GOP Lawmakers spent the weekend making revisions to the comprehensive voting bill behind closed doors and suspended rules to rush it to the floor for a vote. Supporters of the bill call it “necessary reform” in order to bring back integrity into the state and country’s election operations.
“I think what the Republicans here would tell you is they’re trying to make sure the person voting is the person on paper, so it’s a legitimate vote, devoid of fraud,” said Republican State Representative Michael McCaul.
President Biden called Senate Bill 7 “an assault on democracy.”
Going into Saturday night, the bill seemed like a sure guarantee to reach Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. Abbott declared the new voting laws in Texas a priority and quickly announced he would order lawmakers back to the state Capitol for a special session, though he didn’t say exactly when that would happen.
The walkout handed Republicans a rare defeat in the Texas Capitol where they control every lever of power and wield overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate.
