You may have been following the story of the 19 runaway lawmakers from Texas who decided to shirk their duties and become flee baggers. They decided that they would file a lawsuit to block their own arrests, as ordered by the Texas House Speaker. Now, they have taken another loss, in the Texas Supreme Court.
If they do not return to their posts, they are going to be arrested. This is what happens when you decide to head to D.C., instead of doing the job that you are being paid to do. They wanted everyone to be so impressed with their version of a filibuster against the election integrity legislation.
Meanwhile, they wanted the United States to get rid of the filibuster up in D.C. and this is some sad irony, if you ask us. At long last, their summer vacation has come to an end and it is time for them to go back to their usual posts. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan issued the arrest warrants for these lawmakers last week.
As soon as these arrest warrants were signed, many of the 50 Democrats who took off decided that they would make their return to Texas. These Democrats are among the smarter ones of the bunch. On the other hand, the other Democrats decided that they would take the time to look around for some judges that were more friendly to Democrat causes.
JUST NOW: 19 House Democrats who sued to block arrest during their quorum break lose at the Texas Supreme Court, which says the power to arrest is clearly stated in the Texas Constitution.#txlege
— Chuck Lindell (@chucklindell) August 17, 2021
One judge in Austin, a Travis County district judge, was responsible for issuing a restraining order that temporarily blocked the arrest of the aforementioned lawmakers. The Texas Supreme Court told this judge that the order needed to be withdrawn immediately. You would think that the lawmakers would have more knowledge of the state constitution but they do not.
Some of them may be familiar with the state constitution but this whole battle was never about this. The question that was placed to the Supreme Court is simple enough to understand. Is the state constitution going to allow for the Speaker to force these runaway lawmakers to head to work as soon as possible? The Republican justices who were asked to make this decision all said yes.
The Texas Tribune has more:
“The legal question before this Court concerns only whether the Texas Constitution gives the House of Representatives the authority to physically compel the attendance of absent members,” Justice Jimmy Blacklock wrote in the court’s opinion. “We conclude that it does, and we therefore direct the district court to withdraw the TRO.”
The state Supreme Court already has blocked court rulings in Travis and Harris counties to shield the quorum-busting Democrats from arrest — but Tuesday’s ruling signified that it’s legal under the state Constitution for House leaders to compel members to be physically present in the House, even if it means their arrest.”
These state Democrats decided to throw a massive temper tantrum and they knew that they were not going to be able to stop the election integrity reform bill. It was going to pass regardless of what they did. Republicans hold a majority in the Texas House and Senate, making things very tough on them.
While there are some Democrats who are willing to work with Republicans, there are others who have to be seen resisting because it is part of their usual shtick. The Democrats have to accuse the GOP of racism on a regular basis, so that they can continue to raise funds as needed. It’s harder to shake a few extra dollars out of the well-heeled liberals if they do not think that the sky is falling.
Sadly, we are not going to be able to watch these Democrats getting hauled off to jail. The arrest warrants that were used are civil ones, which means that they cannot be removed from their homes. They can only be arrested in public settings. At least now they know that it is time to get back to work!
