Burrows: Only thing standing in the way of disaster relief are missing Democrats

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square ) – Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gaveled in the Texas House on Monday, and again, no quorum was reached.

Only 10 Democrats showed up.

With all 86 Republicans present, a total of 96 members were present, four shy of reaching a quorum. Under House rules, 100 are needed for the House to pass bills.

More than 50 House Democrats absconded a week ago Sunday in protest of a redistricting bill, claiming their priority is disaster relief for Hill Country flood victims.

In their absence, Republicans proposed several disaster related bills, which unanimously passed out of committee 6-0. Burrows said he scheduled them for a floor vote Tuesday.

“They are all vital flooding and disaster response measures,” Burrows said. They “are not symbolic bills. They are critical measures.”

One bill expands the responsibilities of the Texas Division of Emergency Management to improve emergency responses statewide; another creates a new Texas Interoperability Council. Others will “help local governments acquire key communication equipment to better coordinate response efforts, assist communities with purchasing and upgrading emergency communication systems, require outdoor campground facilities to have a flood disaster plan, and create public protections against fraudulent bad actors trying to solicit charitable donations after a disaster,” The Center Square reported.

“I know those of us present are eager to take action on them,” Burrows said. “The only thing standing between Texas and real disaster relief is whether our absent colleagues decide to show up tomorrow.”

He also gave an update on Texas Department of Public Safety troopers locating missing Democrats to arrest them and bring them back to Austin to compel a quorum.

DPS has deployed special agents in every region of Texas, he said. The Texas House also deputized dozens of officers and dispatched them statewide.

“They are set up outside members’ homes, conducting surveillance, knocking on doors, calling their phones multiple times a day. So far, no one’s home, but the search continues,” Burrows said. “It will not stop.”

He also thanked the public for submitting tips about the potential whereabouts of absconding Democrats.

“Many have submitted tips about whereabouts of absent members,” Burrows said. “Over the weekend we received word of a rally in Fort Worth where a couple of absent members were allegedly making appearance. We took this as actionable intelligence and DPS was dispatched immediately. Although in this instance, members did not end up being physically present at the event, we will keep following every credible lead until these members return.”

Burrows also asked DPS to create a tip line to receive leads from the public about missing Democrats if they are physically in Texas: 866-786-5972.

He also said missing Democrats will be covering all of DPS’ costs.

“We are keeping receipts for every gallon of gas, every mile traveled, and every hour of overtime associated with the pursuit of these missing members,” he said. “Under Rule 5, Section 3 of the House Rules, those breaking quorum will be held financially responsible for the cost they’ve created, not the taxpayers.”

He also issued a warning to missing Democrats. “To those absent members you can go to another city, another state, even another time zone, but you cannot escape your responsibility to the people of Texas. Eventually, you will be here.

“Tomorrow when the gavel drops, the question is simple: Will you be in that chair to vote for these critical disaster recovery bills or will you be remembered as one who did not show up? The choice is yours.”

Under Burrows, the Texas House in the last several days sued 33 Democrats in Illinois and six in California. Additional lawsuits are expected.

Gov. Greg Abbott also filed an emergency petition with the Texas Supreme Court to remove from office House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston. The Attorney General also filed an emergency petition with the Texas Supreme Court to remove 13 House Democrats from office.

No hearings have yet to be scheduled in any of the cases filed in Texas, Illinois or California.