The Texas state House voted Monday to issue civil arrest warrants for Democratic lawmakers who have fled the state to block the Legislature from voting on a partisan redistricting plan.
In a statement shortly after, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he would authorize the Texas Department of Public Safety to “locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans.”
The Texas House convened for mere minutes on Monday afternoon to carry out the vote. House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued a searing condemnation of the absent Democrats, accusing them of abdicating their responsibilities while promising to “immediately sign the warrants” if given the power to do so.