Texas Republicans push ahead with redistricting after Democrats flee state
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Title: Abbott threatens to remove Democrats from state House
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to remove Democrats from the state House if they don't return by 4 p.m. ET today, equating the absence to an 'abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office.'
Texas House Democrats left the state in an attempt to block a partisan effort to redraw the state's congressional map orchestrated by Republicans with the support of President Donald Trump.
After a similar play by Texas Democrats in 2021, new rules were put in place to fine lawmakers $500 a day if a member is absent, including 'for the purpose of impeding the action of the House.'
In his statement late Sunday warning Democrats they could lose House membership, Abbott also accused them of raising money to cover their fines, which he suggested may be a felony.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) threatened to remove Democrats from the state House if they don't return by 3 PM today. Texas House Democrats left the state to try and block an aggressively partisan redrawing of the state's congressional map orchestrated by Republicans with the support of President Donald Trump. #texas #democrats #gregabbott #congressionalmaps #trump #news #cnn
Update:
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Title: Texas Democrats and Illinois governor put "spotlight" on Trump-backed redistricting efforts
Content:
Texas House Democrats and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker presented a show of unity in Chicago yesterday after lawmakers left the state to halt a vote on a GOP-drawn congressional district map.
'In the coming days and weeks, Illinois will partner with the Texas House Democratic Caucus to put a spotlight on the danger that Trump and Texas Republicans pose to all Americans,' Pritzker said in a news conference.
Pritzker welcomed the Texas Democrats to his state and noted that he met with a group of lawmakers nine days ago to 'learn about the challenges' facing the caucus.
Asked about the potential redistricting efforts led by Democratic governors in California and New York, Pritzker said, 'Everything's got to be on the table.'
State House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for his 'submission to Donald Trump' and for focusing on redistricting in the wake of last month's devastating flooding in central Texas.
'All Texans across the state have asked for is that the legislature focus and spend its time taking care of the families who are grieving,' Wu said. 'Instead, Gov. Abbott has used this tragedy, taken these families who are grieving, taken these communities who are struggling to recover, and used them as hostages in a political game.'
State Rep. Chris Turner, a former chair of the Democratic caucus, noted that aside from this delegation of lawmakers in Illinois, the Texas Democrats also have representatives in Albany, New York, and Boston 'meeting with leaders in those states to tell them what's happening.'
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