Wow, Governor Abbott Says Democrats Who Left Texas Will Go To Jail

This is getting out of hand.

Yesterday, over 50 Texas Democrats flew to Washington to avoid voting on a very controversial voting law that they don't want to see go into effect.

Today, Governor Greg Abbott said “As soon as they come back in the state of Texas, they will be arrested, they will be cabined inside the Texas capitol until they get the job done" according to FOX 29.

In a statement issued by the Governor's office Tuesday, Abbott cited other special session initiatives such as property tax relief and funding for law enforcement, retired teachers, and the foster care system that can't be addressed until lawmakers return.

"The Democrats must put aside partisan political games and get back to the job they were elected to do. Their constituents must not be denied these important resources simply because their elected representative refused to show up to work," Abbott wrote.

Abbott told FOX News he will just call more special sessions.

On Monday, NBC News reported that at least 51 Democratic Texas lawmakers took chartered planes to Washington Monday afternoon. They're not just running down the clock, though. They say they'll be spending three weeks in the nation's capitol to advocate for a piece of federal voting legislation called the For the People Act.

Here in Texas, Republicans argue that Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3 are meant to prevent voter fraud and protect election integrity, and that the uniform voting hours required under the bills would actually expand hours in some counties. The bills would also ban drive-thru voting, except for disabled voters qualifying for curbside voting.

Democrats argue that there is no proof of voter fraud, and that new legislation would disproportionately burden people of color in Texas.

Basically, the controversy around this bill is that some believe it is racist and seeks to limit the ability of minorities and the less fortunate to vote.

Language in the bills would limit early voting hours and ban 24-hour voting like that seen in Harris County in November 2020's election. Some argue that expanded hours benefitted people of color and shift workers who've faced obstacles to getting to the polls in the past, but Republicans argue expanded hours somehow led to voter fraud. (Texas' 2020 election results painted the state mostly red, so it's a little odd that Republicans are harping on these fraud claims.)

As I said yesterday, what measure will lawmakers take after they lose more elections, especially after trying to make it harder for people to vote.