Back In Austin…

The fascists are on the march. They are going to do whatever it takes to rig the midterms. https://t.co/cOPRobjRmq

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 4, 2025

Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest Texas House Democrats who have fled the state, accusing them of shirking their legislative responsibilities during a critical session.

“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,” Abbott said in a press release on Monday. “By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief. There are consequences for dereliction of duty.”

The Democrats’ departure has stalled proceedings in the Texas House, where several Republican-backed bills are awaiting action. In response, House Speaker Dustin Burrows has issued a call of the House and authorized warrants to compel absent members to return.

Governor Abbott’s order mandates the arrest and return of any absent Democratic lawmakers. The directive remains in place until all members fulfill their constitutional obligations and return to the chamber.

Except that’s not what happened. I don’t blame Meidas Touch. The MSM is reporting what they are, because Abbott’s office spoon fed them the story.  Fortunately, the Texas Tribune is not so credulous:

The Texas House voted Monday afternoon to track down and arrest more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who were not present when the chamber gaveled in. After the 85-6 vote, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said he would immediately sign civil warrants for each of the legislators, empowering the chamber’s sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest and bring them to the Capitol.

They will not face civil or criminal charges from the arrests. The warrants apply only within state lines, making them largely symbolic as most of the legislators in question decamped to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts to forestall passage of the GOP’s proposed redraw of Texas’ congressional map.

The House used the same tactic to try to force Democrats back to work in 2021, when a majority of them left for Washington, D.C., to protest GOP voting restrictions. Some of the lawmakers challenged the warrants in court, obtaining an injunction against arrests that was later struck down by the Texas Supreme Court.

While the Texas Constitution “enables ‘quorum-breaking’ by a minority faction of the legislature, it likewise authorizes ‘quorum-forcing’ by the remaining members,” the court ruled.

Rep. Charlie Geren, a Republican from Fort Worth, laid the groundwork for the warrants by motioning for a “call of the House,” which requires all members to stay within the chamber unless excused. Any members not present can be “sent for and arrested, wherever they may be found,” by the sergeant-at-arms, according to House rules.

Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement he had mobilized the Texas Department of Public Safety to assist in the effort to bring the missing members back to the chamber.

Abbott would love for you to think that’s what happened. But it isn’t. He had nothing to do with it. Even “authorizing” DPS (Highway Patrol to you in-Texans. The people you call when you don’t have a riot, and need the Rangers.). The Speaker of the House authorizes DPS, or the Rangers, to return errant legislators when the vote to force their return has happened. But it’s not a criminal arrest, and not “hot pursuit,” so they can’t go to Illinois, New York, or Massachusetts.

This ends, by the way, when the special session ends. Then it has to start all over again. New flight, new vote, new orders. I understand the reps planned for a three week stay, so they intend to fuck up the next session, too.

And aside from calling another special session, Abbott can’t do shit about it. Please don’t make it look like he can.