I think Abbott will fail

[drray23]

in his quest to get those drastic voter suppression laws to pass. Democrats are in DC for the next 30 days. I do not think Abbott can easily keep calling 30 days legislative sessions back to back until he gets what he wants.
First off, this is also affecting the Republicans lawmakers. They likely have jobs ( being a state rep in Texas is not a full time job and they get about 7000 per year) and won't want to go along indefinitely with that.

Secondly, it is supposed to be used for emergency sessions . What Abbott wants to do is not emergency. There might be a legal challenge to his continuous calling of special sessions if he keeps at it.

Thirdly, the longer the Texas dems stay in DC, the more pressure they apply and keep it in the news. Eventually they will convince even Manchin to go along with a voting rights bill.

[Skittles]

1. very proud of those Texas Dems

this is democracy being directly threatened....we HAVE to take a stand

[smirkymonkey]

2. We should take a group photo of them to show the MAGAts.

"Do you want to see what REAL patriots look like? This is what they look like! Fighting for our Democracy and our freedom instead of sucking up to traitorous Russian assets."

[ancianita]

10. Absolutely.

[viva la]

3. We should call this "The Texas Filibuster"--

The minority party in the legislature has to leave to assert its right to have a voice.

[Liberal In Texas]

4. Except they are going to have a planned meet again in the fall for redistricting.

When that happens this voter suppression thing will probably be the first thing introduced to hell with reapportionment until that's done.

Maybe kicking the can down the road enough will give time for the US Senate to get it's act together and pass voting rights legislation.

[herding cats]

6. This is quite literally what this is about...

Giving the US Senate time to get its act together.

I do hope it works, but while proud of my local Democrats I'm still worried of the final outcome. At least we're trying to bring attention and a spotlight to the matter, though. ❤️

[lees1975]

15. If you remember

the Democrats in the legislature left the state in 2009 over re-apportionment. Ultimately, the courts had to step in and rule on that. The last thing they want is for Democrats to walk out of that and let the deadline pass so that the courts get to set the reapportionment lines. They lose a lot of seats in the legislature at that point. I think the Democrats may actually be getting close to pulling off a statewide election victory in Texas.

[FBaggins]

17. Your memory is a little faulty - and the courts won't redraw the legislative maps

The "Texas 11" failed in 2009 when one of them broke ranks and republicans passed their redistricting maps. Court involvement was because one of those districts was found to be unconstitutional and a small handful were redrawn (5?).

But that doesn't apply to the state legislature maps. There's a step in that process between the state legislature and the courts:

If the legislature fails to draw maps, there's a backup commission that gets tasked with drawing them. All five members of that commission are republicans.

There's little chance that they can stay out of state long enough to keep this from passing. Their only real hope is convincing Congress to help them. A passingly fading chance.

[Hamlette]

5. Now he knows how it feels to have a filibuster.

The Texas Dems are doing the same thing the GOP is doing with the filibuster in Congress.

Sucks doesn't it?

[LymphocyteLover]

7. Hope abides!

[Dakota Flint]

8. We can only hope he will fail

We can only hope he will be in jail
We can only hope he will spend the rest of his fracking miserable life there.
Gang-raped daily.

[catrose]

11. We can hope

[North Shore Chicago]

16. "gang raped?"

May it be suggested you use yours word with more care?

[Dakota Flint]

20. Sorry if I offend your very delicate sensibilities

but that is an unfortunate fact of life in modern US prisons.

[North Shore Chicago]

21. "very delicate sensibilities"

You are a peach, aint ya? Have a beautiful weekend.

[NoMoreRepugs]

9. Manchin is the center of the Universe at the moment.

[RainCaster]

13. A legend in his own mind

That a-hole is firmly in the control of Putin and the GOP.

[Warpy]

12. He really is spectacularly stupid

By announcing the Democrats will be arrested when the return to Texas, he removed any incentive for them to do so. If they are arrested and jailed on their return to Texas, there still won' t be a quorum in the lege.

Abbott was definitely behind the door when the brains were handed out.

[FBaggins]

18. He never said "arrested and jailed"

He said arrested and cabined in the capitol.

[wiggs]

14. Yes. But I think it's more likely they will peel off a republican or two rather than Manchin. nt

[FBaggins]

19. That wouldn't get it done

Unless you convince ten of them not to filibuster.

[Amishman]

22. Grandstanding with 2024 in mind?

I could see it as a ploy to increase his standing and name recognition within the Right.