As the Democrat quorum break in the Texas House enters its second week, the Department of Public Safety is ramping up the effort to compel absent lawmakers back to the Capitol—calling the public to help.
On Monday afternoon, House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced that DPS has set up a dedicated tip line for information on the whereabouts of missing House members. The number, 866-786-5972, will be used to gather leads from Texans who spot lawmakers avoiding their duties.
“The only thing standing between Texas and real disaster relief is whether our absent colleagues decide to show up tomorrow,” Burrows said from the House floor.
According to Burrows, DPS has “special agents deployed in every region of Texas,” and dozens of officers deputized by the House are staking out lawmakers’ homes, knocking on doors, and making repeated phone calls to force a quorum.
He noted that tips from the public have already been used as “actionable intelligence,” including a report over the weekend of a Fort Worth rally where absent members were allegedly making appearances. Although DPS agents determined the lawmakers were not actually present, Burrows said the search “will not stop.”
Under House rules, he added, Democrats who are breaking quorum will be “held financially responsible” for every dollar spent trying to find them—“not the taxpayers.”
Democrats have refused to attend House proceedings in protest of proposed congressional redistricting maps, denying Republicans the 100 members needed for a quorum. Without enough members present, legislation—including measures aimed at flood prevention and disaster relief, which have been placed on Tuesday’s calendar—remains stalled.
“You can go to another city, another state, even another time zone, but you cannot escape your responsibility to the people of Texas,” House Speaker Dustin Burrows warned. “Eventually, you will be here. Tomorrow, when the gavel drops, the question is simple: Will you be in that chair to vote for these critical disaster recovery bills, or will you be remembered as one who did not show up? The choice is yours.”
Meanwhile, efforts to vacate the seats of absent Democrat members are currently awaiting action in the Texas Supreme Court.
No ads. No paywalls. No government grants. No corporate masters.
Just real news for real Texans.
Support Texas Scorecard to keep it that way!
