The cost for Texas Democrats abandoning their seats just went up exponentially. State House Speaker Dustin Burrows has ordered that all direct deposits be stopped for any member absent for the express purpose of denying a quorum. That stops the money flow to those who fled to Illinois and other blue states to prevent the Republican super majority from redistricting the state.
As RedState reported, this battle has been ongoing since early August. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) called for a special session to add up to five GOP-leaning seats to the congressional map, a move to combat gerrymandering in left-wing states like Illinois, New York, California, Maryland, and Massachusetts. As a percentage of the total vote, all of those states give fewer seats to Republicans than Texas has been giving to Democrats.
ALSO SEE: Texas Democrat Legislators Who Fled Give Interviews, and They're Even Crazier Than You'd Expect
Naturally, a national freakout ensued, with Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) helping facilitate the Democrats who abandoned their duties in Texas. That's especially ironic given Illinois is arguably the most gerrymandered state in the country. Meanwhile, one Democrat compared this redistricting fight to the Holocaust, because everything must be stupid.
In the aftermath, Texas Republicans moved to fine the derelict members for each day they remain absent. Arrest warrants were also approved by the legislature, with Abbott authorizing the Texas Department of Public Safety to enforce them.
That's where things get complicated. A state law enforcement agency can't just roll into Chicago and start slapping handcuffs on the Democrats in question. That will have to wait until they decide to cross back into their home state, at which point they can be arrested and taken involuntarily to the state capitol to provide a quorum. In the meantime, the most effective strategy to break this gambit will be financial pressure.
Many of the Democrat legislators in question aren't independently wealthy, and when the paychecks stop coming, they are going to eventually feel it. Couple that with what will eventually be tens of thousands of dollars in fines, and suddenly it's a real question how long they can hold out. Because Abbott can call a new special session every 30 days, he can conceivably exile the Democrats indefinitely until they decide to give in. Do they want to live in hotels, away from their families and without pay, for the next six months over a battle they can't win? I guess we'll find out.
In the meantime, perhaps these Democrats and their national allies should consider winning more elections if they want to control the redistricting process.
Editor’s Note: Every single day, here at RedState, we will stand up and fight against the radical left and deliver the conservative reporting our readers deserve.
Help us continue to tell the truth. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.