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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott implored Texas Democrats to do their jobs in light of the Supreme Court of Texas’ denial on Aug. 9 of their request to overturn Abbott’s June veto of funding legislative pay.
Texas Democrat state Representatives and others filed a lawsuit to halt the execution of Abbott’s veto of Article X, which is a section of the state budget funding the legislature, a June 25 statement from Abbott’s office said.
“The Texas Supreme Court denied Democrats' request to overturn my veto of the Legislature's funding because the Democrats walked out on doing their job,” Abbott tweeted. “Contrary to Democrats and pundits, my veto was legal. Now it's time for Democrats to return to work.”
Abbott also said Texas House Democrats should “get back to the job they were elected to do,” after they broke quorum and left Texas during the regular legislative session in May and then again in July during a special session, Abbott’s July 12 statement said. Abbott’s veto of Article X was in response to the May walkout by House Democrats to prevent passage of a voting bill, The Texas Tribune said. Democrats said Abbott stripped their power to be a “co-equal branch of government.”
“Texas Democrats’ decision to break a quorum of the Texas Legislature and abandon the Texas State Capitol inflicts harm on the very Texans who elected them to serve,” Abbott said in the July statement. “As they fly across the country on cushy private planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state. Issues like property tax relief, funding to support Sheriffs and law enforcement in high crime areas, funding for children in foster care, and funding for retired teachers.”
The Supreme Court of Texas’ denial of the request to overturn Abbott’s veto doesn’t give Abbott “a free pass to cancel any other branch of government at will,” Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner and HDC Legal Counsel Chad Dunn said in a statement.
“We’re disappointed the Court chose to not get involved in Gov. Abbott’s tyrannical violation of the separation of powers, but make no mistake — the high Court clearly states the governor vetoing funding for the legislature in the future raises serious constitutional concerns,” the statement said.
In addition, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan on Aug. 10 signed civil arrest warrants for 52 House Democrats missing from the state Capitol with the goal of regaining quorum during the second special session, The Texas Tribune said. The action comes after the Supreme Court of Texas approved arrests of lawmakers who fled to Washington, D.C. in July.