Latest news with #Bucy
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
How the Texas Democrats are living on the run: 'We are all on alert'
"It makes me scared. It makes me sad," Bucy said in an interview about his self-imposed exodus from his family. "I want to be a part of their lives every chance that I can. But what scares me more is if I'm not here, if they grow up and things are worse off in this country because we didn't stop this gerrymandering." More: Why Trump's political war in Texas is much bigger than the Lone Star State Bucy is staying at an undisclosed hotel in Illinois while he and his fellow Democrats continue to block their Republican colleagues from conducting official business back in Austin, such as the rare mid-decade redrawing of their state's maps that define congressional district boundaries. He said he's still in touch with his legislative staff, who are keeping up with constituents and connecting them to state agencies. Texas is a part-time legislature with a $7,200 annual salary, so like many members, Bucy also has a regular job running a statewide organization that provides athletic, academic and arts competitions for charter school students. Other Texas colleagues who aren't able to work remotely say they are juggling their personal lives, too, amid a partisan firestorm that is spilling over into other Republican and Democratic-controlled states ahead of the November 2026 midterm election campaign. Texas state Rep. Donna Howard said she had to take her grandson along when she left town. Baker, 4, has one parent in recovery and another who isn't in the picture. He's since become a "mascot" for the Democratic legislators at the hotel who have volunteered to help watch him when she speaks with constituents, conducts media interviews or when she needs time alone. "It is a village and my village is stepping up to support me with my grandchild," said Howard, 73, whose district includes parts of southern Austin. "I can't tell you how many people I don't even normally work with on things who have come up and said, 'Can I take him for a little bit and go throw the ball?' So he's kind of like 'King of the Hill' in a lot of ways." Texas Dems resist 'headache factor' but for how long? More: Trump says FBI 'may have to' force Democratic lawmakers back to Texas USA TODAY spoke with more than a dozen Texas Democrats at the center of the national tug-of-war who are facing $500-per-day fines, plus sharp rebukes from Trump and his allies. They have made arrangements to secure extended childcare. They have requested longer-than-expected work absences and found new locations for aging loved ones who require 24-hour caretakers. But they also said living in close quarters has an upside: their relationships and team-building have improved with activities such as daily exercise groups. "Pack a toothbrush. Pack hair spray, because hey, this could go on for a while and you got to be ready for it," said Democratic state Rep. Ann Johnson, an attorney who represents parts of Houston. Johnson, 50, participated in the last Texas quorum break orchestrated by Democrats in 2021, when they fled to Washington, D.C., to resist the GOP tightening the state's election rules. She said she was more prepared this time, but added that this fight is a more stressful and significant situation given the Trump administration's pressure campaign. More: Texas Democrats flee state amid heated redistricting battle. Has this happened before? "They'll continue to try to break us, but I actually feel, unlike 2021, there's a really strong coalition here," Johnson said. "There's a drastic difference... now the threats are so much harsher, they're so much more significant, and the risk of what we lose if we are not successful is really large." Republicans are also doing their part to stymie the Democrats' political efforts, not to mention making their personal lives uncomfortable. Three-term Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to arrest and expel the missing Democrats from the legislature. The state's Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, filied an Aug. 8 lawsuit seeking to get 13 of them removed from office. The FBI is also helping with the search for the lawmakers, according to U.S. Sen. Jon Cornyn, a Texas Republican facing his own 2026 primary challenge from Paxton and who made the request for help. "A lot of people are demanding they come back," Trump told reporters on Aug. 5. "You can't just sit it out. You have to go back." In suburban Chicago, an Aug. 6 bomb threat at the hotel where some of the Texas Democratic legislators have been staying woke them from sleep with a blaring siren echoing through the halls every 30 seconds. It forced an evacuation of the building and took about two hours before guests were allowed back inside, several lawmakers told USA TODAY. Many of the Democrats said the bomb threat marks a turning point, and made them think of officials being targeted in other states, such as in Minnesota, where an alleged gunman shot two state lawmakers and their spouses at their homes in June, killing one of the couples. "We have people who are threatening our lives, threatening our families' lives by exposing us," said state Rep. Christian Manuel, 38, whose district covers an eastern portion of the state that includes Beaumont, Texas. Manuel, who is Black, helps take care of his 95-year-old grandmother and remains in constant contact with family members. Living an hour outside of Jasper, Texas, where a Black man named James Byrd was dragged to death by confirmed white supremacists in 1998, he said the bomb threat at the Illinois hotel reminded him of the potential danger. "My family is aware," Manuel said. "We are all on alert." For many of the absconding Democrats, these incidents have hardened their resolve to resist what progressive critics say are Trump and Abbott's attempts to change the math in their favor for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones, who represents parts of Houston, went viral this week after she slammed Abbott's attempt to have the legislators return. She was also embroiled in controversy for comparing the redistricting plan to the Holocaust in an Aug. 5 interview on "The Don Lemon Show," for which she later apologized. Yeah, that viral video is me. Union kid. Union member. Single mom. Public school product. Survivor. Fighter. Lost loved ones to gun violence. Fighting to protect voting rights. I'm not afraid of Trump or his cult. I'm running for Congress. Please support!#CD18 #QuorumBreaker — Jolanda Jones (@JonesJolanda) August 7, 2025 Jones said she serves as her mother's primary caregiver and that other relatives and neighbors back home have stepped up to help, but that she remains worried about her mother's well-being, given Jones' high visibility. "My mother can't live by herself - that's the bottom line. So me deciding to quorum break was a big deal," Jones, 59, who is running for a Houston-based seat in Congress, told USA TODAY. "I don't know what would happen to my mom if she opened the door and, would they barge in, what would they do? I'm absolutely concerned." Dems hope to frame Texas battle as flood victims v. Trump's whims Experts warn the endgame of the quorum break looks bleak for Democrats even as the national party and liberal activists say they believe the fight could be an inflection point against the Trump administration. "They walked out to stop Republicans from hijacking our democracy," said Christina Harvey, executive director of Stand Up America, a left-leaning voting rights group that has been running ads on social media and TV to mobilize its members against the redistricting efforts. The current Texas special session is scheduled to end Aug. 19, and Democratic legislators say they're committed to staying away from Austin for the long haul. But Abbott can also keep convening legislators, over and over, legal and political experts say, while applying legal and law enforcement pressure until the Republican-controlled legislature gets what it wants. The governor is adding a "headache factor" for lawmakers, Mark Jones, a professor of political science at Rice University, told USA TODAY. Even if none of Abbott's efforts bear fruit, they could lead to the need for the runaway legislators to at least respond to a lawsuit and incur costs, lost time and extra effort, he said. Quorum breaks have been a tool used by the minority party in Texas since 1870. Often, the move is more of a messaging effort with little success in blocking the specific proposal, experts point out. Texas rules say the House must have two-thirds of its members, or 100 people, present to move forward. Of the 62 House Democrats, a few have remained behind in Austin, meaning only a handful need to be arm-twisted into returning to the state for a quorum to be restored and votes to proceed. Jones, the Rice University professor, said the roughly 50 legislators would have to stay out of the state through the end-of-year holidays and into the spring of 2026 for their long-term strategy to prevail. Asked how long they can stay out of Texas, many of the Democratic legislators pivot in their responses to hammer the argument that Abbott is putting the two-term Republican president's desires over a needed aid package for the destructive and deadly flooding that submerged central parts of the state in July. For now, it's unclear how the public is coming down on the Democrats' framing of the fight. A poll conducted by Texas-based Z to A Research, a Democratic-aligned firm, found that 63% of likely voters - including 41% of Republican voters - believe it's unnecessary to be redrawing the congressional district lines several years before it typically happens. An overwhelming majority of 94% said they support funding flood warning systems and relief efforts, according to a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee memo. Wherever the Texas battle lands, the Democratic legislators who have fled to Illinois - a few others have been part of press conferences and public events in California, New York, Massachusetts - said they have become a stronger caucus as a result. They described bonding in ways they couldn't during regular sessions, and they believe that sense of unity will spread to Democrats in other states as the Trump administration looks to expand its redistricting strategy.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
'Pack a toothbrush. Pack hair spray.' How the Texas Democrats are living on the run
Texas Democrats packed their bags and made arrangements to be out of the state for weeks. Some are missing big events, like their kid's first day of school. A child starting kindergarten is a milestone most American families wouldn't dare miss, but it's one John Bucy will be absent from this month when one of his daughters takes a first step in her education. The 41-year-old Texas state legislator, whose district includes parts of northern Austin, is among the more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who've fled the Lone Star State to thwart President Donald Trump's effort to protect his razor-thin Republican majority in Congress. He packed his suitcase to be gone for 30 days – maybe longer. "It makes me scared. It makes me sad," Bucy said in an interview about his self-imposed exodus from his family. "I want to be a part of their lives every chance that I can. But what scares me more is if I'm not here, if they grow up and things are worse off in this country because we didn't stop this gerrymandering." More: Why Trump's political war in Texas is much bigger than the Lone Star State Bucy is staying at an undisclosed hotel in Illinois while he and his fellow Democrats continue to block their Republican colleagues from conducting official business back in Austin, such as the rare mid-decade redrawing of their state's maps that define congressional district boundaries. He said he's still in touch with his legislative staff, who are keeping up with constituents and connecting them to state agencies. Texas is a part-time legislature with a $7,200 annual salary, so like many members, Bucy also has a regular job running a statewide organization that provides athletic, academic and arts competitions for charter school students. Other Texas colleagues who aren't able to work remotely say they are juggling their personal lives, too, amid a partisan firestorm that is spilling over into other Republican and Democratic-controlled states ahead of the November 2026 midterm election campaign. Texas state Rep. Donna Howard said she had to take her grandson along when she left town. Baker, 4, has one parent in recovery and another who isn't in the picture. He's since become a "mascot" for the Democratic legislators at the hotel who have volunteered to help watch him when she speaks with constituents, conducts media interviews or when she needs time alone. "It is a village and my village is stepping up to support me with my grandchild," said Howard, 73, whose district includes parts of southern Austin. "I can't tell you how many people I don't even normally work with on things who have come up and said, 'Can I take him for a little bit and go throw the ball?' So he's kind of like 'King of the Hill' in a lot of ways." Texas Dems resist 'headache factor' but for how long? More: Trump says FBI 'may have to' force Democratic lawmakers back to Texas USA TODAY spoke with more than a dozen Texas Democrats at the center of the national tug-of-war who are facing $500-per-day fines, plus sharp rebukes from Trump and his allies. They have made arrangements to secure extended childcare. They have requested longer-than-expected work absences and found new locations for aging loved ones who require 24-hour caretakers. But they also said living in close quarters has an upside: their relationships and team-building have improved with activities such as daily exercise groups. "Pack a toothbrush. Pack hair spray, because hey, this could go on for a while and you got to be ready for it," said Democratic state Rep. Ann Johnson, an attorney who represents parts of Houston. Johnson, 50, participated in the last Texas quorum break orchestrated by Democrats in 2021, when they fled to Washington, D.C., to resist the GOP tightening the state's election rules. She said she was more prepared this time, but added that this fight is a more stressful and significant situation given the Trump administration's pressure campaign. More: Texas Democrats flee state amid heated redistricting battle. Has this happened before? "They'll continue to try to break us, but I actually feel, unlike 2021, there's a really strong coalition here," Johnson said. "There's a drastic difference... now the threats are so much harsher, they're so much more significant, and the risk of what we lose if we are not successful is really large." Republicans are also doing their part to stymie the Democrats' political efforts, not to mention making their personal lives uncomfortable. Three-term Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to arrest and expel the missing Democrats from the legislature. The state's Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, filied an Aug. 8 lawsuit seeking to get 13 of them removed from office. The FBI is also helping with the search for the lawmakers, according to U.S. Sen. Jon Cornyn, a Texas Republican facing his own 2026 primary challenge from Paxton and who made the request for help. "A lot of people are demanding they come back," Trump told reporters on Aug. 5. "You can't just sit it out. You have to go back." In suburban Chicago, an Aug. 6 bomb threat at the hotel where some of the Texas Democratic legislators have been staying woke them from sleep with a blaring siren echoing through the halls every 30 seconds. It forced an evacuation of the building and took about two hours before guests were allowed back inside, several lawmakers told USA TODAY. Many of the Democrats said the bomb threat marks a turning point, and made them think of officials being targeted in other states, such as in Minnesota, where an alleged gunman shot two state lawmakers and their spouses at their homes in June, killing one of the couples. "We have people who are threatening our lives, threatening our families' lives by exposing us," said state Rep. Christian Manuel, 38, whose district covers an eastern portion of the state that includes Beaumont, Texas. Manuel, who is Black, helps take care of his 95-year-old grandmother and remains in constant contact with family members. Living an hour outside of Jasper, Texas, where a Black man named James Byrd was dragged to death by confirmed white supremacists in 1998, he said the bomb threat at the Illinois hotel reminded him of the potential danger. "My family is aware," Manuel said. "We are all on alert." For many of the absconding Democrats, these incidents have hardened their resolve to resist what progressive critics say are Trump and Abbott's attempts to change the math in their favor for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones, who represents parts of Houston, went viral this week after she slammed Abbott's attempt to have the legislators return. She was also embroiled in controversy for comparing the redistricting plan to the Holocaust in an Aug. 5 interview on "The Don Lemon Show," for which she later apologized. Jones said she serves as her mother's primary caregiver and that other relatives and neighbors back home have stepped up to help, but that she remains worried about her mother's well-being, given Jones' high visibility. "My mother can't live by herself – that's the bottom line. So me deciding to quorum break was a big deal," Jones, 59, who is running for a Houston-based seat in Congress, told USA TODAY. "I don't know what would happen to my mom if she opened the door and, would they barge in, what would they do? I'm absolutely concerned." Dems hope to frame Texas battle as flood victims v. Trump's whims Experts warn the endgame of the quorum break looks bleak for Democrats even as the national party and liberal activists say they believe the fight could be an inflection point against the Trump administration. "They walked out to stop Republicans from hijacking our democracy," said Christina Harvey, executive director of Stand Up America, a left-leaning voting rights group that has been running ads on social media and TV to mobilize its members against the redistricting efforts. The current Texas special session is scheduled to end Aug. 19, and Democratic legislators say they're committed to staying away from Austin for the long haul. But Abbott can also keep convening legislators, over and over, legal and political experts say, while applying legal and law enforcement pressure until the Republican-controlled legislature gets what it wants. The governor is adding a "headache factor" for lawmakers, Mark Jones, a professor of political science at Rice University, told USA TODAY. Even if none of Abbott's efforts bear fruit, they could lead to the need for the runaway legislators to at least respond to a lawsuit and incur costs, lost time and extra effort, he said. Quorum breaks have been a tool used by the minority party in Texas since 1870. Often, the move is more of a messaging effort with little success in blocking the specific proposal, experts point out. Texas rules say the House must have two-thirds of its members, or 100 people, present to move forward. Of the 62 House Democrats, a few have remained behind in Austin, meaning only a handful need to be arm-twisted into returning to the state for a quorum to be restored and votes to proceed. Jones, the Rice University professor, said the roughly 50 legislators would have to stay out of the state through the end-of-year holidays and into the spring of 2026 for their long-term strategy to prevail. Asked how long they can stay out of Texas, many of the Democratic legislators pivot in their responses to hammer the argument that Abbott is putting the two-term Republican president's desires over a needed aid package for the destructive and deadly flooding that submerged central parts of the state in July. For now, it's unclear how the public is coming down on the Democrats' framing of the fight. A poll conducted by Texas-based Z to A Research, a Democratic-aligned firm, found that 63% of likely voters – including 41% of Republican voters – believe it's unnecessary to be redrawing the congressional district lines several years before it typically happens. An overwhelming majority of 94% said they support funding flood warning systems and relief efforts, according to a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee memo. Wherever the Texas battle lands, the Democratic legislators who have fled to Illinois – a few others have been part of press conferences and public events in California, New York, Massachusetts – said they have become a stronger caucus as a result. They described bonding in ways they couldn't during regular sessions, and they believe that sense of unity will spread to Democrats in other states as the Trump administration looks to expand its redistricting strategy.
5 days ago
- Politics
Texas Democrats staying in Illinois evacuated over bomb threat
Texas Democrats staying in Illinois after fleeing the state in opposition of Republican-led redistricting effort were evacuated from their hotel over a bomb threat, local law enforcement said on Wednesday. The St. Charles Police Department said they responded to a report of a bomb threat at the Q Center hotel outside Chicago. No device was found, authorities said. "St. Charles Police and Fire departments and the Kane County Sheriff's Office bomb squad conducted a thorough search and no device was found. In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation," the department said in a statement. According to authorities, all guests and staff were able to return safely to the premises and the investigation is ongoing. Several Texas Democrats released statements on the threat and said they won't be deterred from trying to block the new congressional map that would heavily favor Republicans. "Early this morning, a bomb threat forced us to evacuate our hotel. Thankfully, no one was harmed. But this is the kind of danger that comes from reckless rhetoric. When the Attorney General tells people to 'hunt us down,' it's not just politics -- it's a threat to our safety," state Rep. Ann Johnson said in a statement. "We've been threatened by the Governor, the Attorney General, and our colleagues in the House," state Rep. John Bucy said in a statement. "This harmful discourse emboldens bad actors and encourages violence. It's unacceptable and needs to end." Bucy added that Texas Democrats are "determined" still. "We will push through the threats and the noise to keep fighting for our constituents, our democracy, and our country. This is a fight worth having," Bucy said. Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu and state Reps. Ramón Romero and Barbara Gervin Hawkins said in a statement that their cohort in Illinois is safe. "This morning, a threat was made against the safety of the members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred. We are grateful for Governor Pritzker, local, and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety." Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who has been a vocal supporter of Texas Democrats, said in a social media post that he was aware of the reported threats made against Texas officials in the state and that he's been in touch with state police. "Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable," Pritzker wrote on X. The redistricting fight continues to escalate after dozens of Texas House Democrats fled the state on Sunday to prevent Republicans from moving to enact the new election map, which could impact which party controls the U.S. House after the 2026 midterm elections. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has ordered the Texas Department of Safety to find and arrest the Democrats who fled the state, an order which will remain in effect until they are "accounted for and brought back" to Austin. Abbott also appealed to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday evening to remove Rep. Wu, a top Texas Democrat, from office.
CNN
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Texas House Dems faced potential bomb threat in Illinois, police say
A delegation of Texas House Democrats had to evacuate their hotel in Illinois Wednesday morning due to a potential bomb threat, according to multiple lawmakers and local police. St. Charles Police in a statement says the department 'responded to a potential bomb threat at the Q-Center hotel and convention complex.' The statement goes on to say that 400 people were evacuated and that the area was secured but that the bomb squad did not find any device after a thorough search. 'This morning, a threat was made against the safety of the members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred. We are grateful for Governor Pritzker, local, and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety,' Texas House Democratic caucus chair Rep. Gene Wu, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Rep. Ramón Romero, and Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair Rep. Barbara Gervin Hawkins said in a statement. Several Texas House Democrats have assembled in Illinois for a quorum break amid their standoff with Texas House Republicans over proposed changes to the congressional maps in the state that would favor Republicans. Two state reps - John Bucy and Ann Johnson – said Texas House Democrats faced a bomb threat and were evacuated from their hotel in Illinois, where several Democratic lawmakers have traveled this week amid their quorum break. 'We were promptly evacuated, and thankfully, everyone is safe,' Bucy said in a statement. 'Unfortunately, this is what happens when Republican leaders, like our corrupt Attorney General, call on their supporters to 'hunt us down.' We've been threatened by the governor, the attorney general, and our colleagues in the House. This harmful discourse emboldens bad actors and encourages violence. It's unacceptable and needs to end.' 'But let me be clear: Texas Democrats are not deterred — we are determined. We will push through the threats and the noise to keep fighting for our constituents, our democracy, and our country. This is a fight worth having,' he continued. 'Thankfully, no one was harmed. But this is the kind of danger that comes from reckless rhetoric. When the Attorney General tells people to 'hunt us down,' it's not just politics — it's a threat to our safety,' Johnson said. 'Continuing to go further and further down the path of incitement and intimidation is dangerous. And this is the perfect example,' Johnson continued. 'We won't be intimidated. Texas Democrats are united, resolute, and more committed than ever to standing up for the people we represent. This moment demands courage — and we're ready to meet it.' Rep. Ron Reynolds tells CNN there was announcement about the threat over the hotel intercom at around 7:15 am local time. Bucy and Johnson both referenced an X post from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton where he said, 'We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.' Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said he has directed the Illinois State Police 'to ensure we maintain public safety.' 'Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable,' Pritzker wrote on X. St. Charles Police say guests have returned to the hotel and that the investigation is ongoing.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to block high-speed rail from altering Texas roads heads to subcommittee
PALESTINE, Texas (KETK) — A bill authored by East Texas State Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) to stop high-speed rail projects from altering state roadways has advanced to a public committee hearing. Tyler approves study for train services Harris introduced House Bill 1402 on Nov. 19, 2024. Since then, the bill has been read and referred to the House Subcommittee on Transportation Funding for a public hearing on March 31. 'HB 1402 would stop the use of your hard-earned tax dollars from being spent to alter roadways for this unwelcome project,' Harris said. 'We're one step closer to defending private property rights and protecting Texas taxpayers from this transportation debacle through HB 1402.' H.B 1402 would amend Section 199.003. of the Texas Transportation Code to say the following: 'This state, a state agency, or a political subdivision of this state may not use public money to pay for the alteration of a roadway related to the construction of a high-speed rail project operated by a public or private entity.' That section of the Texas Transportation Code was passed as Senate Bill 977 on Sept. 1, 2017. The bill made it illegal for the state to appropriate any money for planning, constructing, maintaining, securing, promoting or operating high-speed rail operated by a private entity. Trump administration takes aim at $4B in funding for California high-speed rail Texas Rail Advocates, a non-profit dedicated to promoting freight and passenger rail, rated Harris's bill as counterproductive. The nonprofit noted that the bill would prevent public funds from being used to alter roadways on the public's highspeed rail projects. State Rep. John Bucy III, a Democrat representing Austin, has filed House Joint Resolution 58, which proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to spend money on transit-oriented projects. Texas Rail Advocates rated Bucy's resolution as productive. TOWNHALL TENSION: State reps booed off stage during education meeting Both Harris' and Bucy's proposals are scheduled to be discussed by the House Subcommittee on Transportation Funding in room E2.014 at the Texas Capitol in Austin starting at 10 a.m. on Monday. Texas residents can submit their own comments for all the bills and topics the subcommittee will be discussing on Monday through the House Public Comment form online. The hearing will be streamed live on the Texas House website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
