Posted on 08/26/2025 11:10:41 AM PDT by ma_che62
The debate comes days after Gov. Greg Abbott added “legislation to impose penalties or punishments for legislators who willfully absent themselves during a session” to the special session agenda.
(Excerpt) Read more at texasscorecard.com ...
Meeting behind closed doors, the caucus considered three separate motions. The outcome underscored divisions within the Republican ranks, and has sparked open criticism of Speaker Dustin Burrows.
The first motion supporting changes to House rules passed after being pared down. It originally sought to strip Democrats of guaranteed vice-chairmanships and eliminate requirements that chairs consult them on committee scheduling.
Those provisions were removed, but the remaining language tightened penalties on members who skip town to block legislation, including steeper fines, loss of seniority, and forfeiture of chairmanships.
The second motion, however, failed on a 44–27 vote, falling short of the two-thirds support required in caucus. That proposal would have censured Democrats who fled the state and immediately imposed penalties: removing chairmanships and vice-chairmanships, docking seniority in the next session, and cutting office budgets for each day absent without leave.
Some members have noted such a measure would likely require the same supermajority to advance on the House floor.
Its failure, however, has drawn sharp backlash from some of the caucus’ conservative members.
State Rep. Andy Hopper said, “The Texas House Republican caucus just voted against holding the Dems who fled accountable in any real way. This motion did NOT pass by the required majority.”
State Rep. Nate Schatzline added, “I am incredibly disappointed in the uniparty Republicans that chose to get the backs of the far left democrats that abandoned Texas rather than getting the backs of their constituents!”
State Rep. Brent Money was more direct, pointing a finger at the speaker.
“The tenuous Republican Caucus unity that has been developing since the Dems broke quorum is over, and it’s the fault of Speaker Burrows. Only 44 Republican members were willing to punish the Derelict Dems after Burrows’ whipping votes against it. Very disappointing,” said Money.
Burrows did not respond to a request for comment on whether he whipped votes against the motion.
And you know the dumbocrats would do the same if rolls were reversed right?
My gentle colleague across the aisle…
House (RINO) Republicans Reject Effort to Punish Democrat Quorum Breakers (USA)
Fault in system replace asap.
And they wonder why the dems are so quick to run roughshod over everyone and wield power like a feudal lord over everyone else.
The dems understand only one thing: ripping their still-beating heart out of their chest and showing it to them before they collapse to the floor. Unless and until we ditch the RINOs and find some men and women with the intestinal fortitude to do what must be done, expect more of this from the left, and don’t bellyache when they do!
RINOS gotta RINO..................
What was all the flatulence about when the RATS were up in Chicongo kissing the Prixster’s butt? Now they decide that they are two Shickebchit to back up all the big mouth wind they let loose. Cowards. That’s all the GOP is. A bunch of cowards.
Probably just as well. I don’t think the GOOBers want to be there when the DemonRATS all show up with their knives, guns and Subway submarine sandwiches. It would be a slaughter.
That’s fine, I’m sure The democrats would extend the same courtesy to the republicans if the roles were reversed.
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