# The Republican War on Voting Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 11, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723 "2021-03-11T17:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/301 "2021-05-31T00:11:20Z")
It’ll pass. Not a doubt in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/302 "2021-05-31T05:14:28Z")
Blocked! The Dems walked and there was no quorum. Gov. Abbott sputtered helplessly. > **[Dems walk, stop Texas GOP's sweeping voting restrictions](https://apnews.com/article/tx-state-wire-texas-government-and-politics-92d26e25c9db88a32e0fda890773b908)** > > AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Democrats pulled off a dramatic, last-ditch walkout in the state House of Representatives on Sunday night to block passage of one of the most restrictive voting bills in the U.S., leaving Republicans with no choice but to... ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/303 "2021-05-31T07:38:13Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Blocked! > > The Dems walked and there was no quorum. Gov. Abbott sputtered helplessly. I just spotted this article on Yahoo and came here to post it too. Note, Gov. Abbott may not be so helpless, and the law may not be dead. Abbott vowed to call the legislature into special session to finish the job. (Could the Dems block it by walking out on that too?) Here’s the Yahoo link, in case you find the AP link paywalled: > **[Dems walk, stop Texas GOP's sweeping voting restrictions](https://news.yahoo.com/dems-walk-stop-texas-gops-041424848.html)** > > Texas Democrats pulled off a dramatic, last-ditch walkout in the state House of Representatives on Sunday night to block passage of one of the most restrictive voting bills in the U.S., leaving Republicans with no choice but to abandon a midnight... ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/304 "2021-05-31T07:46:31Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I just spotted this article on Yahoo and came here to post it too. Note, Gov. Abbott may not be so helpless, and the law may not be dead. Another, more extensive article at WaPo: Mentions that there were a number of other bills in progress as well, including some that had bipartisan support, that also got left behind as a result of this. > **[Texas Democrats block restrictive voting bill by walking off the floor to...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/texas-voting-restrictions/2021/05/30/51dfa134-c140-11eb-93f5-ee9558eecf4b_story.html)** > > The surprise move came after impassioned late-night debate and procedural objections about the measure, which would have made it harder to vote by mail, empowered partisan poll watchers and made it easier to overturn election results. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/305 "2021-05-31T12:13:47Z")
This is an important win, although a qualified one. Constitutionally, the Texas Legislature meets from January-May every even numbered year in their “regular session,” and midnight yesterday was the House deadline for final approval of bills. By letting the bill come down to the literal last minute, Republicans opened themselves up to this maneuver. If they had moved the bill earlier in the session they could have held more Democrat’s bills hostage to get them to show up. Our Republican Lt. Governor (who presides over the Senate) is blasting the Republican Speaker right now because of this. It is glorious. But, as @Senegoid notes, the Governor can call the legislature back anytime he wants for thirty days in a “special session.” We already knew this was going to happen, because there were a couple of items that the Legislature had not addressed during the regular session – specifically redistricting and how to spend federal stimulus funds. During the special session, the Governor gets to decide what’s on the “call” – i.e. the issues that the Legislature may consider during the special session. Undoubtedly Abbott will add “voting reform” to the call. Could Democrats boycott again? They could. Famously back in the early-aughts, Texas Democrats fled the state when Republicans tried to enact a mid-decennial redistricting. It took three special sessions before Democrats gave up and showed up in Austin. They could do the same again, although Republicans will have some powerful carrots and sticks to entice them back with the federal money and the threat to redistrict them out of existence. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/306 "2021-05-31T12:19:47Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > And lobbyists writing laws that go against **our** core values should never be legitimized by anyone. In this case “our” doesn’t include Republican voters. Which is the problem. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/307 "2021-05-31T14:30:05Z")
I forget which state it was 10-ish years ago where the boycotting legislators decamped to an adjacent state and their Governor tried to send the state police to the other state to arrest them for “dereliction of their legislative duties”. But I don’t think any of us need to resort to guessing to know which party were the fleeing legislators vs which party tried to arrest them. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/308 "2021-05-31T14:50:02Z")
That’s the case from Texas that I mentioned in my post above. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/309 "2021-05-31T15:10:03Z")
My apologies. D’oh!! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/310 "2021-05-31T15:14:00Z")
It’s hard to keep up with all the Texas legislature insanities. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/311 "2021-05-31T15:15:39Z")
I kinda think “legislature” is excess verbiage in your post. But otherwise I agree completely. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/312 "2021-05-31T15:19:37Z")
Well, there are a few Democrats. But I know what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/313 "2021-05-31T22:16:05Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I forget which state it was 10-ish years ago where the boycotting legislators decamped to an adjacent state and their Governor tried to send the state police to the other state to arrest them for “dereliction of their legislative duties”. > > But I don’t think any of us need to resort to guessing to know which party were the fleeing legislators vs which party tried to arrest them. This happened in Wisconsin to delay Act 10 which basically stripped teachers of collective bargaining rights. [2011 Wisconsin Act 10 - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Wisconsin_Act_10) Brian ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/314 "2021-05-31T22:35:18Z")
The best that Democrats can hope for is to inspire massive public protest against Republicans, but that almost never happens in response to voting laws or gerrymandering. That’s why Republicans keep getting more and more aggressively authoritarian. They know that the chances are, there won’t be much resistance. And they’re probably right. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/315 "2021-06-01T01:04:29Z")
Shit is getting real down here in Texas – Governor Abbott has [threatened to veto the entire budget for the state legislature](https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/31/texas-greg-abbott-funding-legislature/) for the next two years over the Democratic walkout. Ignoring the point that this punishes the House Republicans who stood with him just as much as the Democrats (and the Senate, who passed the bill), there’s no more egregious break with democracy than denying a branch of government it’s basic ability to function. This wouldn’t just cut off legislator’s salaries – it would cut off their ability to hire staff, serve their constituents, conduct oversight, and do the basic work of legislating. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/316 "2021-06-01T01:23:42Z")
Anyone who doesn’t believe that violence is inevitable, is a child. When you remove democracy, you remove the capacity of a society to resolve political differences through negotiation. It’s almost guaranteed that there is going to be a major civil conflict within the next 3-5 years. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/317 "2021-06-01T01:23:46Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Shit is getting real down here in Texas – Governor Abbott has [threatened to veto the entire budget for the state legislature](https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/31/texas-greg-abbott-funding-legislature/) for the next two years over the Democratic walkout. Ignoring the point that this punishes the House Republicans who stood with him just as much as the Democrats (and the Senate, who passed the bill), there’s no more egregious break with democracy than denying a branch of government it’s basic ability to function. This wouldn’t just cut off legislator’s salaries – it would cut off their ability to hire staff, serve their constituents, conduct oversight, and do the basic work of legislating. Yeah, but they got to prevent black people from voting. Priorities, OK? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/318 "2021-06-01T02:09:30Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Shit is getting real down here in Texas – Governor Abbott has [threatened to veto the entire budget for the state legislature](https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/31/texas-greg-abbott-funding-legislature/) for the next two years over the Democratic walkout. Ignoring the point that this punishes the House Republicans who stood with him just as much as the Democrats (and the Senate, who passed the bill), there’s no more egregious break with democracy than denying a branch of government it’s basic ability to function. This wouldn’t just cut off legislator’s salaries – it would cut off their ability to hire staff, serve their constituents, conduct oversight, and do the basic work of legislating. I posted this earlier today in the Stupid Republican idea thread: > [@NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 1)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-1/911140/5437): > > What a classy guy, 🙄 (Follow-up to the Dems walkout.) > > > ### [Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vows to defund state Legislature after voting…](https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/31/texas-greg-abbott-funding-legislature/) > > > > “No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities,” Abbott tweeted Monday. > > The threat is more symbolic than real-world, but still… > > > … > > Abbott’s tweet referred to Article X of the budget, which pays not only lawmakers and staff but also funds legislative agencies, such as the Legislative Budget Board. Under the current budget, the legislative branch is funded through the end of August, and the budget Abbott is referring to covers the fiscal year starting Sept. 1. > > > > Abbott has until June 20 to carry out the veto. > > > > State lawmakers are paid $600 a month, equal to $7,200 per year. They also get a per diem of $221 for every day they are in session, including both regular and special sessions. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/319 "2021-06-01T13:04:06Z")
The irony is that Texas has long been considered a “weak governor” state. The governor doesn’t have direct authority over state agencies, and the Lt. Governor has usually been considered the more powerful figure in state politics. Greg Abbott (building on a foundation laid by Rick Perry) has turned this dynamic on its head. He’s successfully seeded state agencies with loyalists willing to do his bidding. He’s directed agencies to submit rules to his office before they’re published, something he has no legal authority to require. He has enormously expanded his emergency powers, even pre-COVID. He’s expanded his line-item veto authority to allow him to essentially rewrite the budget. And he’s done all of this with nary a peep out of the Legislature. If he gets away with this, then Texas is a gubernatorial dictatorship with a sham legislature that’s only allowed to function if it stays in the governor’s good graces. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/320 "2021-06-01T13:06:59Z")
Only if the population allows it, tho. A bunch will support it and even more won’t oppose it. Will there be enough opposition willing to make the effort? This is how minority control happens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723.md?page=17)