Republicans Rounding Up Democrats in Texas

[Shofercia]

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/0 ... nt-return/

Members of the Texas state House voted 76-4 to deploy law enforcement to track down and arrest 58 Democrat members who fled the state to break quorum to prevent a vote on a Republican-backed election bill. The House members voted on two motions brought by Rep. Will Metcalf, chair of the House Administration Committee to record present session members, ban members in attendance from leaving the chamber without first obtaining approval, and enable “the sergeant at arms, or officers appointed by him, send for all absentees … under warrant of arrest if necessary.” Texas law requires a two-thirds quorum of the 150-member House body to approve legislation, which it just falls short of without the 58 Democrat members.

Remember the Oregon thread? I think that rounding people up to get a quorum, albeit quite funny if done Texas style, is wrong, and should be illegal. What does NSG think? To get the discussion going, I'll fire up a few comments from the Oregon thread:

House Speaker... called the walkout “a crisis for our democracy. This is not a game. Voters elected us to do our job. The members who refuse to show up and do their jobs are saying to a large majority of Oregonians: your vote doesn’t matter.”

Many important bills have yet to be brought up for a vote with just two week remaining in the session. Governor Brown has said she might call the legislature back for a special session in the late spring.

I agree with the sentiments of the Governor and House Speaker. Everyone in the legislature was elected to do a job and if you will not do that job then resign. Show up and debate the bill or simply vote no. Rendering government inoperable is a dereliction of their duty and a violation of their oath of office. The Republicans in the legislature represent only 36 percent of the population and are acting like spoiled children and they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Lumen clearly disagree with me, so I wanted to give his rational for supporting the Republicans in Texas. So which one of us is right in the case of Texas? NSG, sound off!

[Deblar]

Oh god

[San Lumen]

Republicans are trying to destroy democracy and actively harm people. The complete opposite of what Democrats were trying to pass in Oregon.

Republicans don't believe in Democracy or the rule of law so they should just pass what they want without a quorum.

[Shofercia]

Republicans are trying to destroy democracy and actively harm people. The complete opposite of what Democrats were trying to pass in Oregon.

Republicans don't believe in Democracy or the rule of law so they should just pass what they want without a quorum.

So as long as it's "good" (TM) it's find to round up members of the opposing party, but when it's "evil" (TM) then the opposing party should totally run away? What determines good versus evil?

[San Lumen]

Republicans are trying to destroy democracy and actively harm people. The complete opposite of what Democrats were trying to pass in Oregon.

Republicans don't believe in Democracy or the rule of law so they should just pass what they want without a quorum.

So as long as it's "good" (TM) it's find to round up members of the opposing party, but when it's "evil" (TM) then the opposing party should totally run away? What determines good versus evil?

Things Republicans want to pass in the special session.

[Shofercia]

So as long as it's "good" (TM) it's find to round up members of the opposing party, but when it's "evil" (TM) then the opposing party should totally run away? What determines good versus evil?

Things Republicans want to pass in the special session.

So when Republicans call a special session, they're evil, but when Democrats do it, they're good?

[San Lumen]

Things Republicans want to pass in the special session.

So when Republicans call a special session, they're evil, but when Democrats do it, they're good?

Not what I said.

[Shofercia]

So when Republicans call a special session, they're evil, but when Democrats do it, they're good?

Not what I said.

You said that the things Republicans want to pass in a special session are evil. Are things that Democrats want to pass in a special session, good?

[Shofercia]

Double post

[Catsfern]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

[Shofercia]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

But what if their voters want them to run off in order to prevent a quorum?

[San Lumen]

Not what I said.

You said that the things Republicans want to pass in a special session are evil. Are things that Democrats want to pass in a special session, good?

It depends but your twisting my words into a generalized statement. In this case the things Republicans want to pass are bad.

[New Odrana]

Not what I said.

You said that the things Republicans want to pass in a special session are evil. Are things that Democrats want to pass in a special session, good?

Actually, he said, "things Republicans want to pass in the special session" (emphasis mine), which indicates this specific special session, not just special sessions in-general. It's a subtle-but-important distinction.

[Vassenor]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

Which in practice here means the GOP gets to force through restricting voting rights of minority groups and mandating genital examinations for school athletes.

[New Odrana]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

Yeah, that's my take, too. Representatives shouldn't be able to just run off everytime they don't want to vote on something.

[San Lumen]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

Lets say Republicans wanted to revoke the city charter of Austin or put LGBT and trans people into internment camps? The Democrats should chose throw their hands up and say oh well?

In this case they are trying to make it harder to vote because they are terrified of they won't be able to rely on their rural base anymore. They are also infringing on the rights of trans people.

[Catsfern]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

But what if their voters want them to run off in order to prevent a quorum?

well than that's debatable, I'm sure some people on support their side walking out, but I'm somewhat confident in saying most people wat the members of their state legislatures to actually be ya know... legislating. not just draining taxpay money while avoiding the responsibilities of their positions

[New Odrana]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

Which in practice here means the GOP gets to force through restricting voting rights of minority groups and mandating genital examinations for school athletes.

While these things are indeed deplorable, the latter will almost certainly get ripped apart in court.

[Shofercia]

You said that the things Republicans want to pass in a special session are evil. Are things that Democrats want to pass in a special session, good?

Actually, he said, "things Republicans want to pass in the special session" (emphasis mine), which indicates this specific special session, not just special sessions in-general. It's a subtle-but-important distinction.

Ok, fair enough. So, once again, what determines good and evil? Is requiring a voter to show a driver license when voting, evil? Is updating the voting rolls every two years, evil? For instance, one of the provisions includes "protections for partisan poll watchers" but all a poll watcher can do is watch the vote. Why's that evil? Why should my ballot box watchers rely on the opposition's ballot box watchers showing up?

[Catsfern]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

Lets say Republicans wanted to revoke the city charter of Austin or put LGBT and trans people into internment camps? The Democrats should chose throw their hands up and say oh well?

In this case they are trying to make it harder to vote because they are terrified of they won't be able to rely on their rural base anymore. They are also infringing on the rights of trans people.

what if the democrat's wanted to socialize all industries or outlaw all firearms?

see I can jump to unreasonable extremes too.

legislatures exist to legislate, and politicians on both side of the isle get away with enough BS as it is. I'd much rather see their butts in seats casting votes to show their disapproval of a decision then seeing them pettily refuse to do their jobs.

[Shofercia]

both this and the Oregon situation just sound to me like forcing politicians to actually do their fucking job and vote on things in stead of just letting them run off so that nothing gets done.

Lets say Republicans wanted to revoke the city charter of Austin or put LGBT and trans people into internment camps? The Democrats should chose throw their hands up and say oh well?

In this case they are trying to make it harder to vote because they are terrified of they won't be able to rely on their rural base anymore. They are also infringing on the rights of trans people.

Internment camps are illegal, and wouldn't survive a judicial challenge. I'm also unsure about Texas law, but I doubt you can just revoke a city charter for da lulz.

[San Lumen]

Lets say Republicans wanted to revoke the city charter of Austin or put LGBT and trans people into internment camps? The Democrats should chose throw their hands up and say oh well?

In this case they are trying to make it harder to vote because they are terrified of they won't be able to rely on their rural base anymore. They are also infringing on the rights of trans people.

what if the democrat's wanted to socialize all industries or outlaw all firearms?

see I can jump to unreasonable extremes too.

legislatures exist to legislate, and politicians on both side of the isle get away with enough BS as it is. I'd much rather see their butts in seats casting votes to show their disapproval of a decision then seeing them pettily refuse to do their jobs.

They wouldn't.

And let the bill pass and hundreds of thousands if not millions are unable to vote? Screw that. You want to mess with the democratic process for personal gain then stop the legislature from working. Staff of Republicans legislators should walk out too.

Let their phone calls and constituent work go unanswered. The Governors staff should stop showing up to work too.

[San Lumen]

Lets say Republicans wanted to revoke the city charter of Austin or put LGBT and trans people into internment camps? The Democrats should chose throw their hands up and say oh well?

In this case they are trying to make it harder to vote because they are terrified of they won't be able to rely on their rural base anymore. They are also infringing on the rights of trans people.

Internment camps are illegal, and wouldn't survive a judicial challenge. I'm also unsure about Texas law, but I doubt you can just revoke a city charter for da lulz.

George Takai says hello.

I wouldn't put it past Republicans to do it.

[Shofercia]

But what if their voters want them to run off in order to prevent a quorum?

well than that's debatable, I'm sure some people on support their side walking out, but I'm somewhat confident in saying most people wat the members of their state legislatures to actually be ya know... legislating. not just draining taxpay money while avoiding the responsibilities of their positions

That's a fair point, but let's say that you know, (purely hypothetically,) that 90% of your voters, (and you won the vote 60%-40%,) want you to do nothing, so that they can enjoy a smaller government. Wouldn't it be fair to say that you should break quorum, if there's an expansive new law that'll give government more power to spy on Americans on home soil?

[Ghost Land]

Republicans are trying to destroy democracy and actively harm people. The complete opposite of what Democrats were trying to pass in Oregon.

Republicans don't believe in Democracy or the rule of law so they should just pass what they want without a quorum.

One group of Republican politicians =/= all Republicans, so nice "all X are Y" comment.