Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott joked off the idea of establishing a tip line to locate fugitive Texas state House Democrats on Sunday – but, the next day, the House speaker did just that.
More than fifty Texas House Democrats are continuing to hide out in other states in order to deny Republicans the quorum needed to vote on redistricting.
“We have Texas Rangers, as well as Texas Department of Public Safety officers, who are working with federal officials, like they have done in years past. And we’re working to seek and find them and hold them accountable,” Gov. Abbott reported in a video clip from an interview he posted to social media.
“They may show up on the backside of milk cartons,” Gov. Abbott joked, when asked if there was “a hotline or a website, if anyone someone sees one of these Dems?”
Then, on Monday, Republican Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced that a tip line has, indeed, been set up:
“I have asked DPS (Department of Public Safety) to establish a tip line to receive information and leads regarding members’ whereabouts if they happen to be in the state. That phone number is 866-786-5972.
“Let me repeat that for those who want to get out a pen and write it down: 866-786-5972.”
Texas citizens had been providing tips, even before the tip line was created, the speaker said, thanking them.
Speaker Burrows also listed other measures being taken to locate the runaway Democrats:
Redistricting isn’t the only initiative that Democrats are holding up by fleeing the state, however, Speaker Burrows noted:
“The only thing standing between Texas and real disaster relief is whether our absent colleagues decide to show up tomorrow.”
Burrows also delivered a message to the absent House Democrats:
“You can go to another city, another states, even another time zone – but, you cannot escape your responsibility to the people of Texas. Eventually, you will be here.
“Tomorrow, when the gavel drops, the question is simple: will you be in that chair to vote for these critical disaster recovery bills, or will you be remembered as one who did not show up?
“The choice is yours.”