First, Texas Home Democrats refused to satisfy of their legislative chamber in an act of resistance. Now, one in every of them will not depart.
State Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Price on Monday mentioned she’s going to stay locked within the Austin statehouse chamber till the Home reconvenes on Wednesday morning.
She is making the transfer after she refused circumstances set by Republican leaders that might have required her to log out on a legislation enforcement escort earlier than being allowed to go residence after Monday’s session.
It is one other dramatic flip within the two-week saga involving Texas state Home Democrats who fled to different states earlier this month, with most of them taking refuge in Illinois. The plan denied a quorum for Republicans to maneuver ahead throughout a particular legislative session with a redraw of Texas’ congressional map, an act geared toward padding the GOP’s U.S. Home majority.
“I refuse to signal away my dignity as a duly elected consultant simply so Republicans can management my actions and monitor me with police escorts,” Collier mentioned in an announcement that referred to as her a “political prisoner” for refusing Republican “surveillance protocol.”
Texas Home Speaker Dustin Burrows on Monday mentioned that the Democrats who had arrest warrants issued in opposition to them couldn’t depart the chamber until they agreed to particular circumstances.
“Members who haven’t been current till immediately, for whom arrest warrants have been issued, will probably be granted written permission to depart solely after agreeing to be launched into the custody of a delegated [Department of Public Safety] officer appointment below the principles of the home,” he mentioned, including that the officers would “guarantee your return Wednesday at 10 a.m.”
“For these nonetheless absent, civil arrest warrants stay in pressure,” Burrows added.
Collier is a seven-term Democratic lawmaker and former chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus who additionally represents a majority-minority district. Democrats have charged that the redrawn congressional maps would tear up these districts, stripping these voters of their voices.
“Once I press that button to vote, I do know these maps will hurt my constituents — I gained’t simply go alongside quietly with their intimidation or their discrimination,” she added within the assertion.
“My constituents despatched me to Austin to guard their voices and rights,” she mentioned.
A Burrows spokesperson couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
