Texas House Democrats and legislative staffers take Gov. Greg Abbott to court for defunding Legislat

[babylonsister]

Texas House Democrats and legislative staffers take Gov. Greg Abbott to court for defunding Legislature
The governor had vowed to veto the Legislature’s funding in the final hours of the regular legislative session in May after House Democrats broke quorum and left the chamber to prevent passage of a controversial elections bill.
by Cassandra Pollock June 25, 202111:44 AM Central


A group of Texas House Democrats and legislative staffers is asking the Texas Supreme Court to override Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent veto of a portion of the state budget that funds the Legislature, staffers there and legislative agencies.

More than 50 Democrats, a number of state employees and the Texas AFL-CIO have signed on to a petition for a writ of mandamus, which was filed Friday morning.

“The state is in a constitutional crisis at this moment,” said Chad Dunn, an attorney involved with the petition, during a briefing with reporters Thursday.

The governor had vowed to veto the Legislature’s funding in the final hours of the regular legislative session in May after House Democrats broke quorum and left the chamber to prevent passage of a controversial elections bill. That legislation, an Abbott priority, would have created new limitations to early voting hours, increased voting-by-mail restrictions and curbed local voting options.

The petition argues that Abbott exceeded his executive authority and violated the state’s separation of powers doctrine. The parties involved with the petition are asking the all-Republican court to find Abbott’s veto unconstitutional, which would allow Article X of the state budget, the section at issue, to become law later this year.

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https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/25/texas-greg-abbott-veto-legislature-funding-court/

[FBaggins]

1. How can a veto be unconstitutional?

Are they arguing that there is some legislation that isn't subject to veto?

I thought that in TX the gov could even veto joint resolutions (except on adjournment).

[Sinistrous]

2. I wonder what Gov. Abattoir would do if

the Dems did another walkout to prevent a quorum when the budget comes up for a vote?

Is this even possible?

What would be the potential repercussions?

[FBaggins]

3. It has played out before (2003?)

The remaining legislators have the power to arrest and compel members who attempt "quorum busting"... but the arresting officers have no jurisdiction outside of the state. So the objecting Democrats stayed in a hotel in Oklahoma.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. This will be fun to watch