Texas Governor. Greg Abbott is preparing to deliver the State of the State address on February 1, 2021 in Lockhart (Texas Bob Daemmrich/Pool photo via APTexas' state representative has asked campaign donors for help to pay his legislative staff.Governor After Democrats fled the state, Greg Abbott defunded his legislature to stop restrictive voting laws being passed.State legislator salaries are enshrined into the constitution, unlike staffers' salaries. Without legislative action, staffers will lose their salaries on September 1.Check out more stories from Insider's business page.Texas Republican state legislator asked his donor base for help to pay his staff and other personnel. Greg Abbott vetoed pay for the legislature in the June biennial budget.In a letter to donors, Dan Huberty stated that more than 2100 employees would not receive a paycheck after Abbott's decision. Huberty also said that donations to Huberty would help his team "as long as they continue doing their jobs."Patrick Svitek, a Texas Tribune reporter, reported the message on Twitter for the first time.Abbott's veto is applicable to the entire legislature. However, the state constitution provides that lawmakers' salaries are enshrined. It states that "Members the Legislature shall be paid from the Public Treasury a six hundred dollar per month salary."In May, Texas House of Representatives Democrats staged a walkout to stop restrictive voting laws being passed before the deadline. Soon after, Abbott posted on Twitter that he would veto funding for the legislative branch, noting, "No pay to those who abandon their responsibilities."Also, the state constitution stipulates that legislators receive a per-diem salary for each day they serve in special sessions. This would mean they would likely still get paid regardless the state budget. The constitution does not include the salaries of legislative staffers, bill writers, or administrative personnel. They are therefore subject to Abbott's Veto.Continue the storyThe new budget won't go into effect until September 1, so there is still less time to fund the legislature. The Democratic House members broke the quorum and went to Washington DC to convince Congress to establish voting regulations and stop the state legislature passing restrictive voting bills. The state budget can't be modified until enough Democratic representatives return to ensure quorum.Both Republicans and Democrats have voiced their disapproval at the governor's decision not to fund the legislature. Dade Phelan (Republican and Speaker of Texas House of Representatives) told the Texas Tribune that his concern is most about the staff's pay.Phelan stated that while I understand the frustration of the governor in failing to pass those emergency items, they were priorities for the governor, mine, priorities and priorities of many members. "My concern is about how it affects staff, particularly those who live in Austin, which is not a cheap place to live or raise your children.In June, Texas Democrats petitioned to the state Supreme Court to reverse Abbott's decision. They claimed that it was invalid for multiple reasons.Insider reached out to Huberty's campaign, and the legislative offices of Rep. Huberty but they didn't immediately reply.Business Insider has the original article.
