[GOPcapitalist]

They sent out the Texas Rangers, they ranted and raved and threatened arrests, and then they backed down. So they ended up with the worst of both worlds.

Exactly. For the first two days or so the republicans did their duty and tried to compel their attendence. Then they saw they were getting smeared in the media (which was gonna happen anyway no matter what they did) and backed down. They had several options left to get the 'rats back. In addition to the constitution, the state open meetings law allows legislators to seek a court injunction to (a) disperse a quorum meeting in secret or (b) disperse less than a quorum conspiring to meet in secret. The Ardmore 'rats were doing both - quorums of several committees were present in Oklahoma and the whole group was definately less than a quorum conspiring in secret. A court injunction would have effectively smoked out the 'rats from Oklahoma, meaning they would either have to disperse or they'd be in contempt and face the penalties that brings with it...and the bad PR. That last part could entice some of the 'rats from swing districts to depart, and they only needed 5 to do so.

[Iwo Jima]

The Texas Constitution allows for the governor to have missing legislators taken into custody and brought to the legislature when a quorom is absent. But it is not a criminal or civil offense, and no court is going to get involved. Also, once the legislative session is over, the power to arrest the errant legislators is gone.

In short, the Republicans did all that they could through legal means to bring the runaways back. What you propose is legally unfounded and politically ill-advised.