Texas Republicans have voted to track down and arrest dozens of Democratic legislators who have fled the state to block passage of a partisan redistricting plan.
The vote passed by 85 to 6, following Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s threat of bribery charges against the absent Democrats.
After the vote, the governor ordered state troopers “to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans”.
Fleeing to another state, one that is HEAVILY gerrymandered to avoid a vote on redistricting because “They’re going to Gerrymander”! is peak irony and hypocrisy. They were also elected to represent their constituents, not abandon their duties and flee when things don’t go their party’s way. Not their constituents way, their PARTY’S way.
It’s pretty irrelevant where they go. As long as they prevent the erosion of democracy they are acting in the interest of their constituents.
“As long as they prevent the erosion of democracy…” you mean as long as they prevent the erosion of the Democratic Party’s ability to hold power. You seem to be entirely unconcerned about Democrat Jerrymandering.
Oh bug off with your tolerance of intolerance bullshit. If Republicans are going to rip up the rule book at every turn, then the Democrats must do the same. So much damage has already been done that it’s unlikely either party will survive in its current form.
It’s cute how you think Democrats “ripping up the rulebook” is because Republicans did it.
Remember that the Democrats exercised the nuclear option first, much to the cheering of their followers, who then got upset because Republicans turned around and did it too. Democrats were also the first to Gerrymander, but were known as the Democratic Republican Party at the time.
No, I mean it. Democracy is more important than mere policy goals. When Democrats atempt gerrymandering and the Republican minority in a state can prevent it they should also do so.
“Democracy” is Donkeyspeak for “Our ability to hold onto power” You can replace the word “Democracy” in anything they say with “our ability to hold onto power” and it works.
“Donald Trump is an existential threat to our ability to hold onto power!” “This bill is an attack on our ability to hold power!”
There’s also a REASON why Democrats will flee but not file a lawsuit to stop it. If a judge decides, “Jerrymandering and drawing congressional districts based on race is illegal!” the Democratic Party collapses because of how much they’ve Jerrymandered their own states to ensure that they maintain a single party system as much as possible.