A Texas House Democrat spent the night at the state Capitol on Monday after refusing to comply with a Republican-mandated permission-slip system to track lawmakers’ movements.
Democrats who returned to Texas this week after a more than two-week-long stalemate to delay the passage of new congressional maps were met with cheering crowds — and a draconian set of restrictions masterminded by their Republican colleagues.
In order to leave the House floor on Monday, Democrats who fled the state were required to fill out permission slips agreeing to be released into the custody of a Department of Public Safety officer who would remain with them to ensure their return for Wednesday’s session.