by Austin A lawmaker from Fort Worth stated on Monday that she is unable to leave the Texas House chambers because she refuses to comply with the GOP speaker’s demand that Democrats who departed the state be monitored by state troopers around-the-clock.
Republicans According to Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Democrats who broke quorum to thwart a Republican redistricting scheme must be taken out of the House floor by state troopers.
Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth, meanwhile, stayed late Monday after the day’s activities were over, stating that she would not consent to such oversight of the lawmakers.
In a statement to the Fort Worth Report, she said, “I don’t know how long I will be here.” DPS personnel are now tasked with following Democratic state members throughout the Capitol to make sure they return on Wednesday (when the House reconvenes), rather than searching for pedophiles. Without those officers on duty, I sincerely hope the public feels safe.
On Monday, the first day of a second special session, the four House Democrats from Tarrant County returned, meeting the quorum needed to do business. In order to prevent a vote on a proposed congressional redistricting map that would potentially shift seats in favor of Republican candidates, the Texas House Democrats left the state during the first special session.
When more than 50 Democrats departed for Illinois and other states two weeks ago to oppose the redistricting plan, Burrows’ demand for 24-hour security escorts for the returning members came after threats of civil arrests and even expulsion.
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Collier spoke with Republican Representative Charlie Geren, a fellow member of the Fort Worth House who chairs the House Administration Committee, which is responsible for enforcing rules and procedures within the chamber, and he explained the boundaries of her protest.
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Geren claimed that Collier informed him that she would not sign the document authorizing the escort by the Department of Public Safety. Geren stated that Collier is not allowed to leave the Capitol grounds, but she is free to stay in the chamber or visit her office.
While other members, including House Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Wu and fellow Fort Worth Democrat Chris Turner of Grand Prairie, spoke with her, Geren said his colleague from Fort Worth was the only one who stayed inside the chamber.
Since press photographers were not permitted inside the sealed cell, Wu shot pictures of Collier that were shared with the media.
Turner expressed his admiration and respect for Representative Collier’s courageous refusal to allow a police enforcement escort.
Collier, Turner, and fellow Tarrant Democratic Representatives Salman Bhojani of Euless and Ramon Romero of Fort Worth took part in the alleged quorum break. Before joining colleagues in Illinois, Bhojani first traveled to Pakistan to attend to a family medical emergency.
Even if it appears that President Donald Trump’s redistricting plan will pass, the Tarrant Democrats joined others in declaring that their activities sparked a national dialogue.
“We were aware that we would be unable to prevent this,” Romero stated. However, we could slow things down, and we did just that.
GOP leaders, including Governor Greg Abbott, have criticized the absent Democrats for failing to fulfill their constitutional obligations. Turner was one of the legislators. Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, requested removal from office for violating the quorum.
In a statement released on August 8, Paxton claimed that the renegade Democratic lawmakers who had left the state had resigned from their positions. These cowards broke their pledge to preserve the constitution and purposefully undermined it.
According to politicians in Tarrant, the Texans galvanized efforts to oppose the redistricting plan and garnered backing from Democratic governors in California and New York.
Turner claimed that the widely reported walkout sparked national indignation about Trump’s mid-decade redistricting, and that other states were reacting as a result of the battle we initiated.
Collier stated in her statement that Texas House Democrats popularized the term “gerrymandering.”
The Tarrant members did admit, though, that personal hardships, such as being away from their families and enterprises back home, came with their absences. Bhojani claimed that threats and attempts to share his personal information on social media compelled him to relocate his wife and employ protection.
According to him, the DPS escorts that the House speaker had authorized might be advantageous from that perspective.
He remarked, “I’ll feel much better that they’re protecting me.”
She was inundated with media demands as word spread of Collier’s protest, fielding phone calls from reporters outside the locked chamber on the House floor. Late in the evening, a few dozen demonstrators flocked to the Capitol to express their support for her.
Collier told NBC, “Whatever feels right for me, I’ll do it,” when asked if she intended to spend the night in her office or in the House chamber.
Editor’s note: Rep. Charlie Geren’s information was incorporated into this story.
Dave Montgomery is a freelance reporter for the Fort Worth Report who works out of Austin.
Kelly Hart supports the legislative coverage of Texas in the Fort Worth Report.
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