Interesting Times Still Ahead

Texas Democratic lawmakers left the state in a bid to break quorum. They arrived on a bus to a charter flight terminal at ABIA and boarded a plane bound for Washington D.C. #texaslege pic.twitter.com/kLQFmZCgde

— Miguel Gutierrez Jr. (@mgutierrezjr) July 12, 2021

In 1979 it was 12 Senators, and they went into hiding. This time 67 of them left, and at least 51 went to D.C. Abbott's not getting them back anytime soon.

According to House rules adopted at the beginning of the regular session, two-thirds of the 150-member chamber must be present to conduct business. When the House is in session, legislators can vote to lock chamber doors to prevent colleagues from leaving and can order law enforcement to track down lawmakers who have already fled.

Whether law enforcement's jurisdiction extends to D.C remains to be seen.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan says the Legislature “will use every available resource” to move a voting restrictions bill after House Democrats fly out of the state to block its passage. #TXlege https://t.co/bWVHXXmn4i

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) July 12, 2021

Narrator: there's really not anything they can do.

There is still this:

The Democrats’ departure also calls into question other items included on Abbott’s special session agenda, including legislation to provide funding for the Legislature. Last month, Abbott vetoed a section of the state budget that funds the Legislature for the two-year budget cycle that starts Sept. 1. He did so in retribution for Democrats’ walkout in May. If the Legislature does not pass a supplemental budget before the new cycle begins, more than 2,100 legislative staffers and individuals working at legislative agencies could be impacted.

But that affects the GOP side, too; and Abbott isn't calling a special session on redistricting until September, which means the entire Lege has to convene without staff or janitors or cooks in the cafeteria, etc.  Interesting times still ahead.