Some Texas Democrats are returning after their month-long protest in Washington, DC. There are questions over what they accomplished and what the plan is moving forward.
Summary
After being granted relief from a Texas judge to prevent their arrest upon return to Texas, some Democratic members of the state legislature are on their way home.
- The group of lawmakers spent weeks in DC spreading COVID-19 and preventing election reform legislation from passing the Texas state legislature.
- When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for a second special legislative session this past Saturday, they were still AWOL, thus preventing legislative business.
- The bill Democrats sought to prevent passing bans drive-through voting and 24-hour voting centers among other voting options that were not in use before the coronavirus pandemic.
- With their arrest no longer likely, Texas Democrats are still struggling with their next steps: some intend to return while others say they will continue meeting with Democrats in DC.
- MSNBC lauded Texas Democrats’ efforts to advocate for federal election legislation, saying they are “keeping the pressure” on Congress.
- CNN reported on the Texas judge’s injunction preventing the Democrats’ arrest, surreptitiously celebrating that they can “continue their protest without fear of being arrested.”
- In their coverage, Washington Post carries water for Texas Democrats by uncritically saying they’re fighting “voting restrictions”, as if there’s no partisan spin.
- RedState reported on infighting breaking out among the Texas Senate Democrats, with some pointing fingers at the handful of members who returned to Austin, accusing them of “trying to please the Governor and His OPPRESSIVE Agenda.”
- Breitbart’s reporting on the ruling to prevent arrest focused on the provisions in the Texas constitution that actually provide the Governor and Speaker of the House arrest authority for “lawmakers who are not doing their jobs.”
- Fox News highlighted one of the first Democrats to return, State Rep James Talarico, who proudly proclaimed they “pushed Congress closer to passing a federal voting rights act”, even though no such legislation has been passed.
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© Dallas Gerber, 2021
