Texas House Democrats flee to Chicago to deny GOP's congressional redistricting effort
The Texas Democrats were scheduled to be met by a supportive Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker upon their arrival in Chicago. Pritzker issued a statement echoing Texas Democratic arguments that Republicans were using a special legislative session in Austin, aimed at providing relief for last month's flood victims in the state's Hill Country, to please Trump and 'as political cover to push through a racially gerrymandered congressional map.'
'This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity,' state Rep. Gene Wu, the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said in a statement.
'We're leaving Texas to fight for Texans,' Wu said. 'We will not allow disaster relief to be held hostage for a Trump gerrymander. We're not walking out on our responsibilities; we're walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent. As of today, this corrupt special session is over.'
By coming to Illinois, the Democrats from Texas are leaving a state where Republicans dominate and will find themselves in a state where the opposite is true.
Pritzker, in his statement, said the move denies Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott a quorum 'to pass his rigged redistricting scheme,' which was encouraged by Trump's political allies.
Pritzker and Abbott clashed often in the last few years over the Texas governor's decision to bus and fly thousands of immigrants from the southern border to Chicago in part to mock state and city sanctuary policies, resulting in Illinois and the city spending tens of millions of dollars for services.
A source close to Pritzker said discussions about Texas Democrats seeking help from the governor began June 28, when Pritzker attended a dinner for the Oklahoma Democratic Party.
There, Pritzker met with Kendall Scudder, the head of the Texas Democratic Party, and the two spoke about the challenges facing Texas Democrats. Pritzker vowed to support and defend them if they came to Illinois, the source said.
The topic came up again a little more than a week ago when the governor met on Chicago's South Side with some Texas Democratic lawmakers to discuss that state's GOP midterm redistricting effort, the source said.
The 150-member Texas House has 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats, with 100 members required to be present for a quorum call in order to conduct legislative business. It was not immediately clear how many Democrats were making the trip to Chicago.
It's not the first time that Texas House Democrats fled the state capital in Austin to deny a quorum. In July 2021, when Republicans in the state pushed for tighter restrictions on voting, they spent five weeks in Washington, D.C. The move prompted a Texas House rule of $500 per day fines for any such future absences.
But the Texas Tribune reported that in recent days, members of the state's Democratic congressional delegation were contacting their campaign donor base to put together funds to compensate missing members for fines as well as their accommodations in Illinois. One estimate put the cost at $1 million per month.
Additionally, Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is mounting a primary challenge to GOP U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, has offered the services of his office in 'hunting down and compelling the attendance of anyone who abandons their office' to deny quorum.
Pritzker, who is a billionaire, has no plans to pay for the Texas Democrats' stay in the Chicago area, but his campaign staff would make hotel recommendations and help with other logistics, according to the Pritzker source.
The move by Democrats came a day after a Republican-led Texas House panel voted along party lines to advance a draft congressional map altering current district boundaries to create five districts that favor Republicans. The GOP currently holds a 25-12 advantage among the 38-member congressional delegation, with one vacancy.
While the U.S. Department of Justice under Trump sought to offer legal justification for redrawing the map, contending four districts were unconstitutionally racially gerrymandered, Texas House Republicans flatly stated their goal was to increase GOP representation in the state's congressional delegation.
'Different from everyone else, I'm telling you, I'm not beating around the bush,' said state Rep. Todd Hunter, the Corpus Christi Republican who sponsored the remap legislation. 'We have five new districts, and these five new districts are based on political performance.'
Texas Democrats said the new map would come at the expense of representation for Black and Latino voters who would either be packed into new districts or widely dispersed among them.
It's not the first time that Illinois has become home for another state's Democratic lawmakers. In 2011, Indiana Democrats crossed the border and stayed for five weeks in the Champaign-Urbana area to deny a quorum over a Republican push for union-weakening legislation and creation of a school voucher program. A right-to-work bill passed the following year under GOP majorities achieved through the 2011 remap.
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'The world economy is going through many apprehensions — there is an atmosphere of instability,' Modi said at a rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. 'Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.' Japan PM: Win-win trade deal with US may be hard to implement Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump tariff policy leaves some partners losers but few winners WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught left a lot of losers — from small, poor countries like Laos and Algeria to wealthy U.S. trading partners like Canada and Switzerland. They're now facing especially hefty taxes – tariffs – on the products they export to the United States starting Aug. 7. The closest thing to winners may be the countries that caved to Trump's demands — and avoided even more pain. But it's unclear whether anyone will be able to claim victory in the long run — even the United States, the intended beneficiary of Trump's protectionist policies. 'In many respects, everybody's a loser here,'' said Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law School. Barely six months after he returned to the White House, Trump has demolished the old global economic order. Gone is one built on agreed-upon rules. In its place is a system in which Trump himself sets the rules, using America's enormous economic power to punish countries that won't agree to one-sided trade deals and extracting huge concessions from the ones that do. Read more here. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught left a lot of losers — from small, poor countries like Laos and Algeria to wealthy U.S. trading partners like Canada and Switzerland. They're now facing especially hefty taxes – tariffs – on the products they export to the United States starting Aug. 7. The closest thing to winners may be the countries that caved to Trump's demands — and avoided even more pain. But it's unclear whether anyone will be able to claim victory in the long run — even the United States, the intended beneficiary of Trump's protectionist policies. 'In many respects, everybody's a loser here,'' said Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law School. Barely six months after he returned to the White House, Trump has demolished the old global economic order. Gone is one built on agreed-upon rules. In its place is a system in which Trump himself sets the rules, using America's enormous economic power to punish countries that won't agree to one-sided trade deals and extracting huge concessions from the ones that do. Read more here. Switzerland business minister says it could revise tariffs offer ZURICH (Reuters) -The Swiss government is open to revising its offer to the United States in response to planned heavy tariffs, Business Minister Guy Parmelin said, as experts warned the 39% import duties announced by President Donald Trump could trigger a recession in Switzerland. Switzerland was left stunned on Friday after Trump hit the country with one of the highest tariffs in his global trade reset, with industry associations warning of tens of thousands of jobs being put at risk. The country's cabinet will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss its next steps, with Parmelin telling broadcaster RTS that the government would move quickly before the U.S. tariffs are imposed on August 7. "We need to fully understand what happened, why the U.S. president made this decision. Once we have that on the table, we can decide how to proceed," Parmelin said. Read more here. ZURICH (Reuters) -The Swiss government is open to revising its offer to the United States in response to planned heavy tariffs, Business Minister Guy Parmelin said, as experts warned the 39% import duties announced by President Donald Trump could trigger a recession in Switzerland. Switzerland was left stunned on Friday after Trump hit the country with one of the highest tariffs in his global trade reset, with industry associations warning of tens of thousands of jobs being put at risk. The country's cabinet will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss its next steps, with Parmelin telling broadcaster RTS that the government would move quickly before the U.S. tariffs are imposed on August 7. "We need to fully understand what happened, why the U.S. president made this decision. Once we have that on the table, we can decide how to proceed," Parmelin said. Read more here. Greer: Latest tariffs 'pretty much set' and unlikely to change (Reuters) -The tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump imposed last week on scores of countries are likely to stay in place rather than be cut as part of continuing negotiations, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday. Ahead of a Friday deadline, Trump set rates including a 35% duty on many goods from Canada, 50% for Brazil, 25% for India, 20% for Taiwan and 39% for Switzerland, according to a presidential executive order. In trade talks since Trump returned to office, the White House has lowered some rates from levels initially announced, including halving import duties set last week as part of a deal with the European Union. Greer told CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, however, that this would not be the case on the most recent round of tariffs. "A lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country," he said. "These tariff rates are pretty much set." Read more here. (Reuters) -The tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump imposed last week on scores of countries are likely to stay in place rather than be cut as part of continuing negotiations, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday. Ahead of a Friday deadline, Trump set rates including a 35% duty on many goods from Canada, 50% for Brazil, 25% for India, 20% for Taiwan and 39% for Switzerland, according to a presidential executive order. In trade talks since Trump returned to office, the White House has lowered some rates from levels initially announced, including halving import duties set last week as part of a deal with the European Union. Greer told CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, however, that this would not be the case on the most recent round of tariffs. "A lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country," he said. "These tariff rates are pretty much set." Read more here. Trump introduces tiers for trade partners in latest approach to tariffs President Trump is moving forward on a new suite of tariff rates with an approach increasingly focused on grouping countries into tiers, as opposed to a previous approach of simply looking at the trade balance. The new approach remains heavily influenced by either a trade surplus or a deficit but has grown more complex — some might say more subjective — leading to some consolidation in rate levels and the lowering of rates for many countries to a key new standard of 15%. The new landscape was reflected in Thursday night's executive action announcing rates, which centered around the 15% rate set to be in place next week in about 40 countries. Countries facing that rate include major trading partners that recently struck deals, such as Europe and Japan, as well as smaller nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. More than 100 countries were excluded altogether from this week's announcement, meaning their rate will stay at 10%. Meanwhile, a third group of about 30 countries will see higher rates ranging from 18% to 50%. Trump and his team are taking an approach that could simplify future negotiations and be more in line with global trade dynamics. Read more here. President Trump is moving forward on a new suite of tariff rates with an approach increasingly focused on grouping countries into tiers, as opposed to a previous approach of simply looking at the trade balance. The new approach remains heavily influenced by either a trade surplus or a deficit but has grown more complex — some might say more subjective — leading to some consolidation in rate levels and the lowering of rates for many countries to a key new standard of 15%. The new landscape was reflected in Thursday night's executive action announcing rates, which centered around the 15% rate set to be in place next week in about 40 countries. Countries facing that rate include major trading partners that recently struck deals, such as Europe and Japan, as well as smaller nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. More than 100 countries were excluded altogether from this week's announcement, meaning their rate will stay at 10%. Meanwhile, a third group of about 30 countries will see higher rates ranging from 18% to 50%. Trump and his team are taking an approach that could simplify future negotiations and be more in line with global trade dynamics. Read more here. Berkshire's consumer goods companies feel the sting of Trump's tariffs Not even the Oracle of Omaha can avoid the pinch of President Trump's trade war, it seems. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said Saturday its consumer goods businesses felt the impact of Trump's trade policy, which raised tariffs on imported goods, Reuters reported: Read more here. Not even the Oracle of Omaha can avoid the pinch of President Trump's trade war, it seems. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said Saturday its consumer goods businesses felt the impact of Trump's trade policy, which raised tariffs on imported goods, Reuters reported: Read more here. US has 'makings of a deal' with China, Bessent says Treasury Secretary said on X that the US has "makings of a deal" with China. Reuters reports: Read more here. Treasury Secretary said on X that the US has "makings of a deal" with China. Reuters reports: Read more here. Nike, Deckers, On Running among footwear stocks under pressure as Trump outlines latest tariff plans Footwear companies like Deckers (DECK), Nike (NKE), and On Holding (ONON) are under pressure from President Trump's tariff plans, including new rates released Thursday evening that range from 10% to 40%. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Footwear companies like Deckers (DECK), Nike (NKE), and On Holding (ONON) are under pressure from President Trump's tariff plans, including new rates released Thursday evening that range from 10% to 40%. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Stocks sink after Trump's latest tariff blitz Stocks came under pressure Friday after President Trump unveiled his plan for sweeping tariffs on almost all trading partners. Also weighing on sentiment were further signs of cracks in the labor market, punctuated by a weaker-than-expected jobs report released Friday morning. You can check out the latest action and updates in our markets live blog. Stocks came under pressure Friday after President Trump unveiled his plan for sweeping tariffs on almost all trading partners. Also weighing on sentiment were further signs of cracks in the labor market, punctuated by a weaker-than-expected jobs report released Friday morning. You can check out the latest action and updates in our markets live blog. Trump's 40% penalty for tariff dodging missing key details President Trump's tariff surprises are far from over. The US president has threatened to slap an extra 40% tariff on any product that Washington determines to be transshipped via another country. Its believed that this may be punishment, aimed at stopping goods mainly from China dodging US duties. The penalty for transshipping, which is when goods are moved from one type of transport to another, while on the way to where they're going, was included within the White house announcement on Thursday. But countries still do not have all the details. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump's tariff surprises are far from over. The US president has threatened to slap an extra 40% tariff on any product that Washington determines to be transshipped via another country. Its believed that this may be punishment, aimed at stopping goods mainly from China dodging US duties. The penalty for transshipping, which is when goods are moved from one type of transport to another, while on the way to where they're going, was included within the White house announcement on Thursday. But countries still do not have all the details. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump unleashes massive tariffs on Swiss watches, pharma firms Switzerland's exporters are bracing for financial fallout from President Trump's 39% tariffs, one of the steepest rates globally in his escalating trade war. From watch makers to pharmaceutical companies the knock on effect of Trump's new tariffs will be felt. The new tariffs on Switzerland are part of a broader package announced by Trump on Thursday. But Swiss manufacturers warned on Friday that tens of thousands of jobs are at risk due to Trump's tariff hit. Trump's 39% tariffs on Swiss exports do exclude the country's drug sector, but pharmaceutical companies Novartis AG (NVS) and Roche Holding (RHHBY) were one of the 17 global pharma firms to receive a letter from Trump demanding lower prices. "It's a massive shock for the export industry and for the whole country. We are really stunned," said Jean-Philippe Kohl, deputy director of Swissmem, representing the mechanical and electrical engineering industries. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Switzerland's exporters are bracing for financial fallout from President Trump's 39% tariffs, one of the steepest rates globally in his escalating trade war. From watch makers to pharmaceutical companies the knock on effect of Trump's new tariffs will be felt. The new tariffs on Switzerland are part of a broader package announced by Trump on Thursday. But Swiss manufacturers warned on Friday that tens of thousands of jobs are at risk due to Trump's tariff hit. Trump's 39% tariffs on Swiss exports do exclude the country's drug sector, but pharmaceutical companies Novartis AG (NVS) and Roche Holding (RHHBY) were one of the 17 global pharma firms to receive a letter from Trump demanding lower prices. "It's a massive shock for the export industry and for the whole country. We are really stunned," said Jean-Philippe Kohl, deputy director of Swissmem, representing the mechanical and electrical engineering industries. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here.
