ToplineTexas Governor. Greg Abbott called Thursday's second special session to the state legislature in an attempt to pass restrictive voting legislation that was blocked by Democratic legislators who fled the state. However, it is not clear if it will happen.Texas State Democrats spoke at a news conference about voting rights outside of the U.S. Capitol, July... [+] 13. Getty ImagesThe Key FactsAfter the end of the current session, the special session will begin at noon Saturday. It will address 17 pieces of legislation. These include the election bill, and other bills that reflect conservative priorities such as critical race theory and border security. Other noncontroversial issues such as governing radioactive waste storage and how federal Covid-19 relief funds are appropriated will be addressed in the session. The majority of Texas House Democrats have been absent from Texas for 24 days since the start of the special session. They have not said when or how they will return. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa told reporters Thursday that Democrats are not allowed to pass any legislation while their Democratic counterparts remain in Texas. The GOP lawmakers tried to get the sergeant at-arms to order the Democratic legislators to return to the Capitol to be arrested if they were not already there. However, this power does not extend beyond Texas so they cannot force them to return to Texas. Abbott vowed Thursday he would continue to call special session after special session until the legislative items can be passed, and the Republican-controlled legislature is expected to ultimately pass the voting bill should Democrats return and a vote be allowed to take place.What to WatchAlthough it is not clear how Democrats will react to the special session, Hinojosa said that they have been considering returning to Texas or staying in Washington, D.C. in recent days. A press conference has been scheduled for Friday, where their plans could become more apparent. Republicans may try to stop their Democratic counterparts from pulling similar stunts in the future if they return to Texas for the new special session. Abbott stated Thursday that the special session would include the adoption of new legislation to remove the requirement for a quorum to allow legislative business to occur. According to the Texas Tribune, a change in the quorum rule would require that only a simple majority (or less) of legislators be present. This would require a two thirds majority vote in each chamber.Chief CriticJen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, criticized Abbott's push to pass restrictive voting legislation through Thursday's new special session. She said that the Biden administration's fundamental view was that if you push for legislation that makes it more difficult and not easier to vote...then we ask, "What are you afraid of?" Psaki asked if the White House supports the Texas Democrats' effort. However, she said that if the Texas Democrats decided to return to Texas due to the legislative calendar or other bills, then we would support it.Important BackgroundSince May, Texas Democrats have blocked the passage of broad voting legislation. In the final minutes of the legislative session, lawmakers walked off of the House floor and prevented the bill from being passed. Abbott called a special session to pass the bill. This prompted Democrats to leave Texas and travel to Washington, D.C. to oppose the legislation's passage and lobby for federal voter rights laws to eliminate Texas' planned restrictions. According to the Texas Tribune, lawmakers from both sides are stuck in negotiations over voting legislation. This is one of many new restrictive voting laws being enacted across the country. It would prohibit ballot drop boxes from being used and allow for drive-through voting. It also would criminalize third parties that collect and submit mail-in ballots.Continue readingGov. Greg Abbott will announce a special legislative session that begins Saturday. It will cover elections, federal COVID-19 funding and quorum rules (Texas Tribune).Breaking quorum: What does it mean? And what to do about the dramatic departure of Texas House Democrats (Texas Tribune).EXPLAINER - What is in Texas GOP's voting bills? (Associated Press).Texas House Votes to Arrest Democrats Who Left State To Block Voting Law Here's What Could Happen Next (Forbes).Texas Democrats Recognize GOP Will Probably Still Pass the Voting Bill: It's Not Likely The End (Forbes).
