Texas House orders arrest of missing Democrats as weekslong stalemate over a voting restrictions bill continues
The Texas House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to authorize law enforcement to track down Democrats absent from the chamber and bring them back to the state Capitol, “under warrant of arrest, if necessa[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comWith time running out, Texas Legislature still at impasse on GOP elections bill
Republicans believe they have already compromised enough on the legislation, while Democrats are distrustful of both the policy driving the bill and their GOP colleagues after seeing how they have managed the process around the proposal so far.
Texas speaker signs first warrant for Democratic lawmaker who fled state to block voting bill
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) has signed a warrant for the arrest of a Democratic legislator who fled the state earlier this month to prevent Republicans from passing new voting restrictions, the Washington Post reports. Why it matters: The warrant, signed Sunday, is the first against the lawmakers. It directs law enforcement to take state Rep. Philip Cortez into custody after he returns to Austin. It's unlikely to be carried out immediately because it cannot be enforced outside of Texas,
news.yahoo.comSpeaker signs civil arrest warrant for Texas Democrats who returned to Washington
By Cassandra Pollock, The Texas TribuneTexas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, signed a civil warrant for the arrest of state Rep. Philip Cortez, a San Antonio Democrat who rejoined his colleagues in Washington, D.C., on Sunday to help prevent the passage of a GOP-backed election bill. The warrant is not likely to have impact since Texas law enforcement lacks jurisdiction outside the state. Other Democrats criticized Cortez’s move, saying the lawmaker did not first consult with them before returning to Austin. Other Republicans applauded Phelan for signing the warrant, including state Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano, who had questioned the night before why Cortez wasn’t arrested before leaving the state. After Democrats left the state, the House voted overwhelmingly to issue what’s known as a “call of the House” in an effort to regain quorum.
myrgv.comSpeaker Dade Phelan signs civil arrest warrant for Texas House Democrat who returned to Washington
The warrant to apprehend state Rep. Philip Cortez is the first one signed by the speaker since more than 50 House Democrats left the state to block Republicans from having the quorum needed to pass legislation during the special legislative session.
San Antonio lawmaker returns to Texas as Democrats trickle back from Washington, DC
Rep. Philip Cortez, D-San Antonio, is back in Texas to negotiate with Republicans on proposed election legislation. Cortez was previously in Washington DC with fellow Democrats to take part in a quorum-busting walkout.
On plane to DC, San Antonio lawmaker says Democrat’s quorum break is about preserving Texan voting rights
As he sat in a plane that was minutes away from departing to Washington D.C., state Rep. Philip Cortez, D-San Antonio, spoke to KSAT 12 on Monday about why Texas House Democrats decided to leave the state and break quorum (again).
‘It was just a mess’: Texas Rental Relief Program has distributed about 3% of its billion-dollar allotment
“Unfortunately, those delays caused a lot of pain, headaches and heartaches in terms of people just trying to keep a roof over their heads for themselves and their families,” said state Rep. Philip Cortez.