Texas House just short of quorum as order issued to keep members inside chamber
The Texas House of Representatives on Monday saw more members on the floor than when they gaveled in Sunday but didn’t reach the 100 members needed to conduct business.
There were 95 representatives at the Capitol — all 82 Republicans and 13 Democrats. The lawmakers voted to implement a “Motion for Call of the House” to help secure a quorum, meaning the representatives again need Speaker Dade Phelan’s permission to leave the House chamber. The motion was made by Rep. Tony Tinderholt, an Arlington Republican.
It’s been about a month since more than 50 House Democrats fled to Washington D.C. to block Republican-backed election legislation that opponents say would disenfranchise voters. The lawmakers were successful in killing the legislation in the first special session as they advocated for federal voting rights bills, but now there’s a new special session with election bills again on the table.
The House didn’t have a quorum when the second special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott began Saturday, with 81 lawmakers present. Two-thirds of the 150-member body are needed for a quorum.
When attendance was taken again on Monday, there were 93 members present and 56 absent. Phelan said he expected more lawmakers to come to the Capitol and later announced that number was up to 95. Democrats newly on the floor included El Paso Reps. Art Fierro, Mary González and Joe Moody, as well as Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock.
Read more: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article253370448.html
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