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submitted 3 days ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/news@lemmy.world

Texas Republicans have voted to track down and arrest dozens of Democratic legislators who have fled the state to block passage of a partisan redistricting plan.

The vote passed by 85 to 6, following Republican Governor Greg Abbott's threat of bribery charges against the absent Democrats.

After the vote, the governor ordered state troopers "to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans".

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[-] reliv3@lemmy.world 45 points 1 day ago

The irony of a Republican lawmaker trying to make this point is unbelievable...

[-] Soapbox@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 day ago

Ugh, Ken Paxton. I didn't think there could be a worse senator from Texas than Ted Cruz, but Paxton is sure gonna try.

[-] MrSulu@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 day ago

Naturally setting precedent for when Republicans do the same?

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago

They don't plan on having fair elections anymore, they will never get the chance. If they can rig/win the midterm it's basically game over for the US.

[-] MrSulu@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

Cheeto man did say that we wouldn't need to worry about elections again. Many didn't understand and they cheered. Many understood, and they cheered too.

[-] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 29 points 1 day ago

Texas Democrats should tell Piss Baby Abbott that they all went to Cancun cause of their families. Worked for Rafael Cruz.

[-] Tedesche@lemmy.world 41 points 2 days ago

Hopefully, Texas police realize they’re being given an unlawful order and arrest the dickweed who issued it.

LOL. Texas police don’t have brains.

[-] shai_hulud@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

More importantly, they don't have jurisdiction.

[-] Zer0_F0x@lemmy.world 46 points 2 days ago

Y'all are one Reichstag fire away from invading Poland

[-] Routhinator@startrek.website 23 points 2 days ago

Hi from Canada, we're likely Poland in Nazi Boogaloo 2.

[-] Zer0_F0x@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago

All I'm saying is that Canada and Mexico are going to need to step up their border defense game, just in case

[-] Revan343@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 day ago

That's gonna suck all around; America already does poorly with insurgencies, let's see them fight one against their closest neighbour, who speak the same language, look the same, and follow most of the same culture.

[-] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

I know that part of the Canada defence plan involves a bunch of people putting on american hats and some maps of critical us infrastructure.

Don't think that we have the same culture, ours revolves around not being americans.

[-] Azal@pawb.social 3 points 1 day ago

It's an interesting conundrum. They come in and say they're from Canada, a good chunk of the US population would just say "I didn't see nothing"

[-] leftzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

Already burned the White House down once, can burn it down again.

[-] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 3 points 1 day ago

I would like a certain jet to be burned as well.

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[-] Revan343@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

Don't think that we have the same culture, ours revolves around not being americans

We consume much of the same culture, courtesy of Hollywood, which makes it easier for us to blend in

[-] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 points 1 day ago

"How do you do fellow americans"

"Don't worry about the anfo, by the way happen to know how well guarded the local power station is?"

[-] jve@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Is this the long con to get Mexico to pay for the wall?

[-] meep_launcher@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago

Y'all-qaeda is going to have to get through us northerners first, and there are some of us who have been preparing . 🔫🫡

I for one am not going to let my country's army take a meter of my extended family's homeland as long as I'm above ground. Also good luck on suppressing and insurgency in Chicago before heading north.

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[-] Azal@pawb.social 2 points 1 day ago

Is it you all or Greenland right now? I honestly can't keep up anymore.

[-] PapaStevesy@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Too bad they don't have a quorum...

[-] Kazumara@discuss.tchncs.de 29 points 2 days ago

Who exactly has abandoned their duty to Texas? The people eroding democracy in Texas. Abbot you fuckhead!

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[-] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 58 points 2 days ago

I like it when basement dwellers say Democrats don't do anything while they're literally having arrest warrants issued for them because they're trying to prevent fascists from seizing more power.

I also like how these basement dwellers are completely unaware of any of the bills Democrats have passed that have massively helped average Americans because their goal is to whine, not educate themselves.

[-] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 13 points 2 days ago

The world does not care about your fucking parties anymore, they suck and have failed resulting in this (you know having legislators hunted and arrested). The Democrats have failed, the Republicans have failed, your stupid two party system has failed and your nation is in full on collapse.

Yet here you are talking about how "basement dwellers" don't have a good enough opinion of Democrats, as if they have not been a willing partner in this clown show. As if there is any chance that ether (of the current two) parties will be able or willing to return to some sort of normal.

Please from the rest of the world, Shut up or put up. Fix your shit or collapse already.

[-] prole 5 points 2 days ago

Case in point ☝️

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[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 325 points 3 days ago

From another article about this, oh the irony:

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who fled his own impeachment hearings and refused a court order to release his travel records after speaking at the rally in Washington that preceded the January 6 insurrection, has described wayward Democratic legislators as “cowards”.

[-] Tja@programming.dev 80 points 3 days ago

Voters don't care, why should they act differently?

[-] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world 77 points 3 days ago

Only four states, TX, IN, TN, and OR, have rules like this that require 2/3rds of members be present for legislation to be passed. The republicans in Oregon have done it so often that the voters passed (with 70% of the vote) a law that states that any legislator with 10 or more unexcused absences from votes cannot run for office again.

Democrats in Texas have done this to stop redistricting that could result in a fascist take over of the country. Republicans in OR have done this six times since 2019. They did it to block legislation on gun safety, reproductive health, education funding, cap and trade, COVID-19 restrictions, and once on redistricting.

[-] prole 7 points 2 days ago

Both sides are the same though amirite

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[-] Taco2112@lemmy.world 147 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Monday's vote was mostly symbolic, according to the Texas Tribune, as the warrants only apply within state lines. 

The move empowers the chamber's sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest the absent lawmakers and deliver them to the state capitol building in Austin.

They would not face any civil or criminal charges as a result of the warrant, the newspaper reports.

So basically it’s toothless posturing and only real consequences is that they get sent to the state capitol to go back to work.

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[-] SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works 52 points 3 days ago

Arresting political dissidents lol

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[-] thedruid@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

So. That just means they still won't vote in redistricting I dont think they thought that through

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 day ago

They'll arrest and force them to attend the vote to achieve quorum, and then it'll pass. They don't need the votes, just the people.

Honestly, at this point they could just break the rules and pass it anyway. Who's gonna enforce the law?

[-] redwattlebird@lemmings.world 1 points 1 day ago

It's more symbolic to force your enemy to bend the knee.

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[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

The gerrymandering bill has enough votes to pass. Democrats can’t do anything about that.

If enough representatives don’t show up, there’s not enough quorum to even hold a vote.

[-] WanderWisley@lemmy.world 24 points 2 days ago

Gregg Abbott is un-American because he refuses to stand for the national anthem. And I also hear he’s a little piss baby.

[-] Zachariah@lemmy.world 95 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

After the vote, the governor ordered state troopers "to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans".

So which trooper is going to be brave enough to follow the governor’s orders and arrest him?

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this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2025
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