AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is taking action against a Democratic lawmaker who has returned to Washington D.C. as House Democrats continue to break quorum over a Republican-led voting bill.
House Speaker Dade Phelan signed a civil arrest warrant this week for State Rep Phillip Cortez. The Democrat had been in Austin last week meeting with Republicans. Phelan said Cortez was given permission to leave the house floor with the understanding the Democrat would return. Instead, Cortez went back to D.C.
“Rep. Cortex returned to the Texas Capitol of his own volition and represented to me and his fellow members that he wanted to work on policy and find solutions to bring his colleagues back to Texas,” said Phelan. “As a condition of being granted permission to temporarily leave the House floor, Rep. Cortez promised his House colleagues that he would return. Instead, he fled the state and has irrevocably broken my trust and the trust of this chamber.”
According to Cortez, recent talks with Republicans weren’t going anywhere.
“After discussions with Republican leadership didn’t yield any substantive results, I have rejoined my Democratic colleagues in Washington D.C. to continue this fight on this front,” Rep. Cortez said.
It’s unclear when Democrats will return to Austin. Governor Greg Abbott has pledged to call repeated special sessions until the voting bill is heard.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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