AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF)- Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is offering Texas Democrats a way home to Austin.
Phelan said in an effort to further compel House Democrats to return to Texas, he’s chartering a plane that will be on standby in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
“I am demanding all of our colleagues in D.C. to contact my staff immediately in order to secure their seat on the plane and return to Austin in order to do the state’s business. The State of Texas is waiting,” Phelan wrote in a statement.
Phelan is using his campaign funds to pay for the plane.
“While these Texas Democrats collect taxpayer money as they ride on private jets to meet with the Washington elite, those who remain in the chamber await their return to begin work on providing our retired teachers a 13th check, protecting our foster kids, and providing taxpayer relief,” he said.
This comes after phelan asked Texas Democrats currently in Washington to return their daily legislative per diem of $221.
Under the Texas Constitution, per diems must be paid to each member for every day during a special session even if the member is absent.
Also, El Paso Democrat Joe Moody has been stripped of his position as speaker pro-tem of the Texas House.
Phelan made the announcement in a memo and didn’t provide further details, but the move was effective immediately.
Moody’s removal comes after House Democrats broke quorum to stall a Republican-led voting bill. Moody released a statement saying “the most important titles in my life will never change: dad, husband, El Pasoan.”
