Political Stunt Begins To Flounder: Absconding Dems Coalition Begins To Fall Apart
The coalition of absconding Texas Democrats is starting to fall apart, two of the almost 60 Democratic lawmakers are making their way home.
Texas State Rep. Philip Cortez posted a statement online that fellow Democrats still in Texas would like him to return.
“I proudly stood with my Democratic colleagues and left Texas to ensure House Bill 3 would not be approved as introduced. A small working group of Democrats decided to begin active discussions here in Austin on improving HB 3 and asked that I return to establish open communication lines,” Cortez said. “I returned to Texas to try to engage in good faith dialogue about the aspects of the bill that I, and others, think are harmful.”
I respect and stood with my Democratic colleagues in Washington DC. I stand by my convictions about full and open access to voting for all Texans. I’m here to work on that immediately. #TXLege pic.twitter.com/DsNsFS2GC7
— Rep. Philip Cortez, Ph.D. (@CortezPhilip) July 21, 2021
Cortez will be joining Rep. Harold Dutton who also left DC neither has face arrest.
Abhi Rahmen, spokesperson for the Texas Democrats said that no other members have plans to return to Texas.
However, others are getting homesick.
“I’ve had to break those promises to my kids,” Rep. Gina Hinojosa said. “I didn’t anticipate this. I didn’t expect to be here. I expected to be with my family. But this fight is that important.”
They also have another hurdle, they keep spreading COVID around Capitol Hill and are forced to hold Zoom meettings.
“We are still working diligently through the COVID protocols that we have already set in place,” Rep. Ron Reynolds said. “So even though we are not doing as many in-person visits, we are still having many meetings via Zoom.”
The Democrats are also clueless on what to do next because Gov. Greg Abbott said that he will call another special session as soon as the current one ends.
“I believe that we are willing to stay as long as necessary,” Reynolds said. “However, finances and also missing our family, our jobs, are certainly important considerations for us.”
Democrat Senator Joe Manchin has already said that he will not end the filibuster to pass the Democrat voting reform bill.