Austin (Texas), August 5(HS): Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued arrest warrants for over 50 Democrats who left Texas to prevent a quorum in the House on Monday. This absence obstructed the Republican Party's plans to increase its congressional representation.

Burrows accused the lawmakers of abandoning their responsibilities to voters under external pressure. Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate and return the absent members, but law enforcement cannot arrest them for breaking the quorum, nor can they pursue them out of state where many fled to Illinois and Massachusetts.

Of the 62 Democratic members, only six attended a brief session. Burrows announced an upcoming vote on a redistricting plan that could add five Republican-leaning seats by altering district lines and removing a Democratic-leaning district in key metropolitan areas. This effort targets districts represented by Democrats Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez.

Notably, Democrats previously violated the quorum in 2021, prompting then-Speaker Dade Phelan to issue similar warrants, though those lawmakers returned voluntarily.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar