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SAN ANGELO – Local Republican lawmakers representing San Angelo had a unified message to the Texas Democrats who fled the state instead of attending a special session of the legislature: “Get back to work.”
More than 50 Democrats flew from Austin to Washington, DC on Monday to break the quorum and the GOP plans to pass sweeping changes to electoral law along with other conservative priorities.
State Representative Drew Darby (San Angelo) expressed his frustration with his Democratic colleagues and described their actions as “unfair to taxpayers”.
“When the Texas House of Representatives convened (Tuesday morning) for the sixth day of the 30-day special session, I was ready in Austin to work on behalf of the people of Concho Valley and West Texas,” Darby said in an email regarding the standard Times.
Rep. Darby serves House District 72, which includes Coke, Concho, Glasscock, Howard, Irion, Reagan, Runnels, Sterling, and Tom Green Counties.
Darby: “A lot is at stake for Texans”
“… Almost all of my Democratic colleagues have chosen to deny us the opportunity to work on important political issues if they have strategically not come to work out of opposition to certain laws,” said Darby.
As part of the special session, Darby filed a bill on Friday to increase benefits for retired teachers in Texas.
More:State Rep. Darby makes laws to assist retired Texas teachers
“HB 120 would give retired teachers a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and HB 85, filed by State Rep. Glenn Rogers (Graford), would give retired teachers a one-time bonus, or” thirteenth check, “‘” says it in a press release dated Friday, July 9th.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott added the “thirteenth check” as one of eleven priority items on the agenda for the special session, the press release said. Abbott has since called for absent lawmakers to be arrested and “housed in the Texas Capitol until they are done with their jobs.”
More:Governor Greg Abbott promised to arrest the Texas Democrats upon their return. Can he do that
“Without a quorum of Texas House members, we can’t do business, and Texas taxpayers have to pay the bill for the wasted time,” Darby said. “A lot is at stake for Texans during this special session.”
Darby said he and other lawmakers were required to pass additional benefits for retired teachers, relieve property taxes and increase funding for foster children, but were unable to do so because of the strike.
The Democrats countered their Texas exit to prevent Republican lawmakers from erecting electoral barriers.
“We’re not going to watch Republicans curtail our suffrage, silence the votes of Texans of color and destroy our democracy – all to preserve their own power,” said Gilberto Hinojosa, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.
If passed, the provisions of the Voting Acts, SB 1 and House Bill 3 would include prohibiting drive-through voting or casting a ballot from inside a vehicle unless voting is done on the curb due to disability increasing ID requirements for postal ballot papers and banning 24-hour and late-night voting.
Republicans argue that Texas electoral laws need additional restrictions to increase confidence in the election results, while Democrats insist that the changes their GOP counterparts want would impose undue hardship on minority communities.
Learn more about the problems:What would the referendum bill that the Texas Democrats are protesting by fleeing the state do?
“Legislators can and should have serious debates on material issues, but it is a great disservice to taxpayers to stop the entire legislative process when disagreements arise,” Darby said. “My message to my Democratic colleagues: come back to Texas and let’s work for Texans again.”
Pfluger: “It’s time to go back to work”
US Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) did not condemn lawmakers who fled Austin for Washington DC, saying that the Texas Democrats behaved as “obstructionists” after they “gave up their responsibility to the electorate “would have.
Congressman Pfluger serves District 11 in Texas, which includes 29 counties in West Texas, including the cities of Lamesa, Odessa, Midland, San Angelo, Brady, Brownwood, Llano, and Junction.
“We elect our state officials to secure our elections and not flee the state on private jets to clean up for the liberal news media in Washington DC,” Pfluger said in an email to the Standard-Times. “People should see this stunt for what it is … tell the Democrats it is time to get back to work.”
Tom Green County Democrats: “We Are Proud of Our Democrats in Texas”
Some local Tom Green County Democrats are hoping that state lawmakers will take their time before returning to Austin.
“The Tom Green County’s Democratic Party supports the Democrats who left Austin to protect all Texans from attempts by Republicans to erode voter access,” the organization said in a statement to the Standard-Times.
A local party spokesman criticized Governor Abbott and Republican lawmakers’ efforts to change the way votes are counted and by whom.
“The Tom Green County Democrats are proud of our Texas Democrats who are doing everything possible to thwart Republicans’ efforts to destroy the voice of the people, and hope they succeed in their efforts to support the Washington Democrats encourage them to do the same. ” according to statement.
Others read:The Texas Senate body is putting forward bills that restrict sports teams that transgender athletes can join
John Tufts covers corporate and investigative issues in West Texas. Send him a tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.
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