'It punishes regular hard-working folks': Seliger introduces bill to eliminate Abbott's line-item veto authority

Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) has recently introduced legislation in the Special Legislative Session that would eliminate Gov. Greg Abbott's line-item veto power, according to a report by the Texas Tribune.

Seliger argues that Abbott does not deserve to maintain line-item veto authority after cutting funding to lawmakers and adversely affecting staffer's jobs.

"Out of frustration, the governor vetoed all funding for the Legislative Branch because Democrats broke quorum," Seliger stated on Twitter. "But vetoing this funding doesn't punish legislators who left. It punishes regular hard-working folks who have nothing to do with voting for or against bills."

Seliger's bill comes after Abbott followed through on his warning to deny legislative funds in response to the second Democratic walkout against election security legislation, Houston Public Media reported.

"Funding should not be provided for those who quit their job early, leaving their state with unfinished business and exposing taxpayers to higher costs for an additional legislative session," Abbott said in a statement.

On June 12, the Texas House Appropriations Committee unanimously passed a bill that was designed to restore funds and override Abbott's line-item veto of Article X of the state budget. 

However, if the Legislature fails to reinstate funding during the special session, approximately 2,165 legislative employees would not be paid when the fiscal year ends on Aug. 31.

“We now have less than four weeks before the veto eliminates pay for Capitol post office staff, researchers, caseworkers in district offices, those responsible for answering open record requests, etc.," Seliger said.

According to the Texas Tribune, Seliger's bill is "largely symbolic" because the Legislature is currently unable to advance any legislation following House Democrats' departure to Washington, D.C. in order to block Republican voting measures.

Additionally, Seliger is the bill's only author and is one of the few Republicans to publicly criticize Abbott for jeopardizing staff employment.