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AUSTIN, Texas – While the Texas House Democrats stay in Washington and break the quorum to prevent a sweeping GOP-backed electoral law from being passed, little can be done in the Texas legislature.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to convene special sessions after special sessions until a voting bill is passed, possibly until the end of his term.
The quorum only indicates the minimum number of members of a governing body who must be present for business to continue. In the Texan legislature, two-thirds of the elected members must be present in order to have a quorum in each chamber.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants Abbott to change this through a constitutional amendment.
In a letter Patrick sent to Abbott and then shared on social media, he asked the governor to change the quorum requirement to a simple majority plus one.
“Texans expect their legislature to work and not be held hostage by some lawmakers who take advantage of the quorum requirement,” wrote Patrick. “The majority of the other state legislatures require a simple majority plus one. For this reason, I respectfully ask you to add a change in the quorum requirement to a majority through a constitutional amendment to the call. The Texas legislature should be able to move forward and serve the people of Texas when the majority of its members are present. “
There was no immediate response to Governor Abbott’s request.
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