The Texas House has levied severe financial punishments on Democrats who fled the state to block a redistricting vote, including:
– No direct deposit. Must get it in-person.
– Budgets for EACH office member slashed by 30%.
– A fine of $500 per day.
– No newsletters.
Every lever is being pulled.
Speaker: “I have been in constant communication with the Department of Public Safety, which has been working to track down absent members in an effort to return them to our chamber. These efforts will continue through the weekend. For those that have fled to Illinois or to California, be reminded that the FBI’s assistance has reportedly been enlisted, and their powers are not confined to any singular state’s boundaries. As far as new administrative policies in our chamber go, Comptroller Kelly Hancock and I have enacted a new policy stating that any member absent for the purpose of breaking quorum will no longer have their paycheck or per diem deposited electronically. While the constitution forbids us from withholding pay, it does not dictate how we issue the pay. Those checks must now be picked up in person on Capitol grounds, effective immediately. Starting today, to safeguard taxpayer dollars and account for forthcoming liabilities under Rule 5, Section 3 of House rules, which authorizes fines for members absent without leave, 30% of each quorum-breaking member’s monthly operating budget will be reserved and made unavailable for expenditure. Absent members must also appear in person to approve or enact any of the following: requests for travel reimbursement, personal action requests including those increasing or decreasing staff salaries, approval for newsletters and House reproduction services. Failure to appear in person will result in the cancellation of your newsletters and the encumbered funds. We have all hands on deck. We are continuing to explore new avenues.”
