Imagine what would happen if you didn’t agree with your co-workers and decided you would just walk out one day— Not quit, just refuse to work. What would happen? Would you get paid for that day? Would you even have a job when you returned? Neither of those options would be likely and now Texas Dems know how the rest of the world lives after they staged a walkout and refused to vote on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s bill to amp up voting security.
In return, Abbot vowed to cut funding to Dems who refuse to do their job. Not because they didn’t vote for the bill, but because they refused to do the one thing they were hired to do— vote on behalf of their constituents.
“No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities,” Abbott said in a tweet. “Stay tuned.”
According to the Texas Tribune, Sunday night, enough Democrats left the House to break a quorum and block the passage of the elections bill, Senate Bill 7, before a midnight deadline. Calling the bill’s failure “deeply disappointing,” Abbott quickly made clear he would call a special session to get it passed, though he has not specified a timeline.
The Texas Tribune explained:
“Senate Bill 7, a Republican priority bill, is an expansive piece of legislation that would alter nearly the entire voting process. It would create new limitations to early voting hours, ratchet up voting-by-mail restrictions and curb local voting options like drive-thru voting. Democrats had argued the bill would make it harder for people of color to vote in Texas. Republicans called the bill an “election integrity” measure — necessary to safeguard Texas elections from fraudulent votes, even though there is virtually no evidence of widespread fraud.”
In response, Abbott threatened to veto funding for the Texas Legislature, which prompted questions about the separation of powers.
“I will veto Article 10 of the budget passed by the legislature. Article 10 funds the legislative branch. No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities. Stay tuned,” Abbott said.
House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner of Grand Prairie called the move by Abbott an “abuse of power” and said the caucus “is exploring every option, including immediate legal options, to fight back.”
“Texas has a governor, not a dictator,” Turner said in a statement. “The tyrannical veto of the legislative branch is the latest indication that [Abbott] is simply out of control.”
Of course, Democrats are losing their minds. I’m sure they’re blown away at the idea of being held accountable.