AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – House Republicans continue to urge their Democratic colleagues to return to the current special legislative session in Austin.
Dozens of House Democrats broke quorum over a Republican-led voting measure earlier this week in order to stall the bill.
On Thursday, House Speaker Dade Phelan said he charted a plane to D.C. and demanded the Democrats get on it.
“In an effort to further compel House Democrats to return to the State of Texas, I am chartering a plane that will be on standby in Washington, D.C. on Saturday,” said Phelan. “I am demanding all of our colleagues in D.C. to contact my staff immediately in order to secure their seat on the plane and return to Austin in order to do the state’s business. The State of Texas is waiting.”
A plane will be waiting Saturday in Washington for my colleagues ready to get to work. The State of Texas is waiting. #txlege pic.twitter.com/rnTaQPbpCd
— Dade Phelan (@DadePhelan) July 15, 2021
House Democrats responded.
The smartest decision @DadePhelan has made as Speaker was to appoint @moodyforelpaso Speaker Pro Tem.
Joe works tirelessly to help lead the House and is respected by D & R members.
Thats’s why the Speaker’s decision to remove Joe is so short-sighted and dumb. #txlege
— Chris Turner (@ChrisGTurner) July 15, 2021
Governor Abbott has called for the arrests of the lawmakers who broke quorum. He has pledged to call repeated special sessions until the voting bill is taken up.
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