Texas Democrats find renewed hope after virtual meeting with key U.S. House member
WASHINGTON — Texas' quorum-breaking Democrats reported a new sense of hope after meeting virtually Tuesday with House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., even as another Texas Democrat revealed a positive coronavirus test.
"I'm hopeful. I wasn't hopeful days ago, but, through this conversation today, I became hopeful," state Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D-San Antonio, told the American-Statesman.
Gervin-Hawkins said that Clyburn made two commitments during the meeting. First, that he would commit his staff to help the Texas delegation in meeting with various other U.S. House members. And second, that the House will pass a new version of the federal voting legislation ahead of Aug. 7 — the day that Texas' special legislative session will end and the members can return home without fear of arrest.
The Democrats left the state to block passage of a GOP bill in the Legislature that would put new limits on voting that Democrats say target people of color. Republicans say the bill, a priority of Gov. Greg Abbott's, would restore integrity to elections.
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2021/07/21/texas-democrats-report-progress-meeting-house-majority-whip-james-clyburn/8024970002/
