Sen.Ā John CornynĀ (R-Texas)Ā is slamming the Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled to block the legislature from passing new Voting restrictions.
āItās telling that these Democrats in this House of Representatives chose to race toward TV cameras in Washington rather than present their arguments in the legislature,ā Cornyn said.
He continued, āThis is simply an embarrassing dereliction of their duty and a shameful political stuntā¦ they canāt win, so theyāre doing the equivalent of Iāll take my ball and go home, or in this case, Iām simply running away.ā
Watch his remarks below:
On Tuesday, the Texas House voted to have law enforcement track down the lawmakers, as The Hill reports. Voting by a 76-4 margin, the chamber authorized law enforcement to bring the lawmakers back to Austin after they fled to Washington, D.C.
āMembers, the sergeant-at-arms and the officers appointed by him are directed to send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused for the purpose of securing and maintaining their attendance ā under warrant of arrest, if necessary,ā state House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) said.
Texas Gov.Ā Greg AbbottĀ (R) said during a Fox News interview on Monday that the state lawmakers will be arrested upon return to Texas, as IJR reported.
āOnce they step back into the state of Texas they will be arrested and brought back to the Texas Capitol and we will be conducting business,ā Abbott said.
Dozens of the Texas Democratic lawmakers held a press conference in D.C. on Tuesday, as Axios reports.
āOur intent is to stay out and kill this bill, this session, and use the intervening time ā I think 24, 25 days now ā before the end of this session to implore to pass federal Voting rights legislation to protect voters in Texas and across the country,ā Texas State Rep. Chris Turner said.
He continued, āWe canāt hold this tide back forever. Weāre buying some time, we need Congress and all of our federal leaders to use that time wisely.ā