A Texas Democratic state consultant was mocked for posting a picture of a caesar salad on Tuesday after fleeing his dwelling state to Washington D.C. to dam Republicans from passing voting rights payments.
‘My fist (sic) meal as a fugitive. Scrumptious,’ Gene Wu tweeted alongside a photograph of his meals and a Coke Zero.
He additionally tweeted: ‘If there are any Home Sargent at Arms on the lookout for me… I am undoubtedly within the Texas Capitol constructing, someplace.
‘Preserve trying. Do not cease,’ Wu continued.
Shortly after, he adopted up with one other tweet saying: ‘Getting hotter…’
Wu and a gaggle of round 60 Democratic lawmakers from the Lone Star State fled to the nation’s capital on Monday night with the intention to break a quorum and block the Texas State Home from passing Republicans’ voting rights laws.
In response, the remaining members of the Texas Home of Consultant – largely Republicans – voted 76-4 to arrest the runaway Democrats.
‘Members, a sergeant-at-arms and any officer appointed by him are directed to ship for all absentees whose attendance shouldn’t be excused for the aim of securing and sustaining their attendance below warrant of arrest if crucial,’ Texas Home Speaker Dade Phelan introduced from the State Home ground on Tuesday.
He additionally posted a picture of a caesar salad saying ‘first meal as a fugitive’
One Democrat, Gene Wu, taunted the Texas State Home Sergeant at Arms after the legislature voted to have the official arrest the lawmakers who fled
Texas Home guidelines enable the sergeant-at-arms to arrest members who are usually not current on the Capitol for a vote – and the present of disapproval Tuesday may consequence within the lawmakers’ arrest once they land again within the Lone Star State.
The Tuesday vote, nonetheless, would not maintain a lot weight so long as the Democrats stay in Washington since by crossing state traces they’ve escaped jurisdiction of Texas regulation enforcement.
Wu earned some backlash on Twitter when he posted his taunts and put up a picture of a caesar salad in a styrofoam take-out container and a can of Coke Zero.
Twitter customers had been fast to mock Wu, with one evaluating it to the meals handed out at Fyre Pageant
Others known as his put up cringeworthy and identified the he wrote ‘fist’ as an alternative of first
One consumer labeled him – and the opposite lawmakers documenting the saga on social media – as a ‘narcissist’.
Retired Republican Senator Orrin Hatch mocked Wu in posting a picture of himself taking a hen wing from a buffet the place he trolled the Texas’ lawmaker by copying the precise vernacular from the tweet: ‘My fist meal as a fugitive. Scrumptious’
He even spelled ‘first’ incorrect, like Wu did when he wrote ‘fist’ as an alternative.
The few dozen state lawmakers preserve that they don’t seem to be afraid of Governor Greg Abbott’s threats to arrest them for fleeing the state to interrupt a quorum and keep away from voting on Republicans ‘ election laws.
White Home Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre advised reporters aboard Air Power One en path to Philadelphia on Tuesday that Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with the group of lawmakers someday this week.
It isn’t instantly clear if President Joe Biden plans to satisfy with them, however Jean-Pierre mentioned when requested if he helps their choice: ‘He applauds their braveness.’
The Texas State Home adjourned on Tuesday morning. The remaining lawmakers – largely Republican – voted 76-4 to arrest Democrat members who broke the quorum by fleeing to Washington D.C.
Throughout a press convention in entrance of the Capitol on Tuesday morning, the big group broke out into tune with a Civil Rights-era gospel, and getting the phrases incorrect in claiming ‘we’ll overcome’ after arriving in D.C. on a pair of jets that price them $100,000 to constitution.
‘I am not apprehensive about the specter of being arrested,’ Texas State Consultant Jasmine Crockett advised CNN the morning after arriving in D.C.
‘I do not fear most likely as a result of I do know the regulation,’ she continued. ‘I’ve not dedicated a criminal offense, so I can not get arrested.’
Trey Martinez Fischer, a fellow Democratic member of the Texas State Home, mentioned Tuesday that the group of round 60 lawmakers plan to attend out the complete 30-day legislative session in Washington D.C.
‘That is the danger that we take to face up for democracy,’ Martinez Fisher advised CNN when requested concerning the potential of Abbott sending regulation enforcement after them.
The group is staying on the Washington Plaza Resort in Northwest D.C., the place rooms begin at $199 per evening. The resort incorporates a luxurious out of doors pool and lounge surrounded by privateness greenery and bushes.
The lawmakers left their resort on Tuesday morning in buses headed for the Capitol, the place they held a fast press convention exterior the constructing.
Martinez Fischer mentioned they’re engaged on establishing conferences on Capitol Hill after fleeing Texas on Monday and breaking quorum with the intention to block Republican-proposed voting rights legal guidelines from passing. He mentioned nothing is ready in stone but.
A quorum is the minimal variety of members wanted to conduct legislative proceedings and guarantee they’re legitimate. Within the case of Texas, two-thirds of its Home members are wanted to succeed in a quorum, which is 100 folks.
The big group of Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled their state on Monday to keep away from voting on Republicans’ election laws held a press convention exterior the Capitol on Tuesday morning. The lawmakers broke out in gospel tune ‘We Shall Overcome’
Texas Democrats exit the $200-a-night Washington Plaza resort on Tuesday morning to board coach buses en path to the Capitol
The Washington Plaza is positioned in Northwest Washington, D.C. The price of rooms on Tuesday evening begins at $199
Texas state Rep. Jasmine Crockett (left) mentioned Tuesday she shouldn’t be afraid of Governor Abbott’s menace to arrest them and colleague Trey Martinez Fischer (proper) mentioned ‘that is the danger that we take to face up for democracy’ when requested if they’re prepared to remain in D.C. for the complete 30-day legislative session and danger arrest
The Texas Home of Representatives is managed by Republicans with a 83-67 majority. By 58 of the 67 Democrats fleeing the state, solely a most of 92 might be current, which means the minority was in a position to ‘break the quorum.’
These remaining within the Texas State Home, a overwhelming majority Republicans, introduced up consideration Tuesday on arresting their colleagues after two non-public jets – chartered by the state Democrats at a complete price of $100,000 – touched down in Washington D.C. from Austin on Monday carrying 58 lawmakers from Texas.
In the meantime, Texas state senators are anticipated to maneuver on with voting on the proposed election laws on Tuesday.
Senator John Cornyn, who represents Texas, spoke on the ground of the higher chamber on Tuesday the place he excoriated the Democrtic state lawmakers for his or her hypocrisy in not sporting masks on the coach buses or airplanes.
Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention pointers nonetheless require that vaccinated and unvaccinated People put on masks in all public transportation modes together with buses, trains and planes.
‘They obtained on two constitution jets maskless – with at the least one case of lite beer – and hopped on the kets to come back to Washington D.C.,’ Cornyn mentioned as he pulled out a poster board with an image of one of many coach buses with a big yellow circle round a case of Miller Lite beer with an arrow additional emphasizing it.
To completely block the 2 voting payments, the Texas Home Democrats must keep away via the top of the particular legislative session, which might final as many as 30 days.
The session ends on August 7, which means there are 26 days left.
Abbott, nonetheless, can name particular session after particular session till a quorum is reached. He signaled that he intends to take action.
Texas Senator John Cornyn introduced a poster board to the ground of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday as he excoriated Democrats for happening their coach buses and personal jets ‘maskless’ regardless of CDC pointers nonetheless requiring the face coverings, no matter vaccination standing, on all public transportation. He additionally identified that they introduced Miller Lite on the journey
Through the press convention exterior the Capitol Tuesday morning the lawmakers mentioned they’re simply ‘shopping for time’ with their stunt.
At one level, the group started belting out ‘We Shall Overcome’, a gospel tune that grew to become a protest anthem of the American civil rights motion. They obtained the lyrics incorrect, nonetheless, and sang ‘we’ll overcome’ as an alternative of ‘shall.’
‘Give up criminalizing elections,’ Martinez Fisher demanded in his New Day interview the morning after arriving on a non-public jet in D.C. He claimed one of many details Democrats are preventing within the GOP voting invoice in Texas is permitting ballot watchers as a result of it is ‘voter intimidation.’
‘You will be gone for a month, it appears like,’ CNN morning host Brianna Keilar mentioned.
Martinez Fisher replied: ‘If that is what it takes.’
The Texas lawmaker assured that the journey to the nation’s capital was fully privately funded and didn’t depend on taxpayer {dollars}. Some additionally flew on industrial flights – like Crockett, who mentioned she flew Southwest to get from Texas to Washington.
The Washington Plaza Resort, the place the lawmakers are staying, contains an out of doors pool surrounded by bushes for privateness
He posted a video of himself from the tarmac on Monday asking for donations to his marketing campaign to assist fund the journey – together with journey and lodging prices.
‘We’ll break quorum. I can not do that alone, I want your assist. I do not know the way lengthy I will be gone,’ he mentioned in a self-style video earlier than asking for donations to his marketing campaign.
The state lawmaker advised CNN that the resort prices Tuesday evening might be paid for immediately out of his marketing campaign account.
Members of the Texas Home of Representatives make solely $7,500 per 12 months.
Martinez Fischer insisted that chartering a non-public airplane as an alternative of flying commercially was crucial as a result of ‘everyone desires to see’ us, so we ‘have to fly privately.’
Dan Crenshaw, who represents Texas’ 2nd congressional district within the U.S. Home, known as the group ‘pathetic’ and ‘delinquent kids’ on Monday night.
‘Exhausting to think about a extra delusional group of individuals – pondering that mendacity about these payments, hopping on a chartered flight, sipping beer, and skipping work is ‘sacrifice,’ he tweeted.
The Republican congressman added: ‘You guys are pathetic. Completely pathetic.’
‘These delinquents are doing this to kill a invoice that does issues like make voting hours throughout counties the identical,’ he adopted up in one other tweet. ‘There is not a single factor in these payments that’s ‘voter suppression.’ This a (sic) large charade. Texans must be livid, and vote all of those kids out of workplace.’
Abbott mentioned on Monday evening the state Democrats might be arrested upon their return to Texas.
The governor’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com when requested whether or not he plans to ship regulation enforcement after the members as they hunker down in Washington.
Governor Abbott described the lawmakers as ‘quitters’ who had been ‘un-Texan’ in working from a battle.
The 2 payments Democrats sought to keep away from a vote on would add new identification necessities for mail-in voting, ban sure early voting choices and create new felony penalties for breaking election code, whereas empowering partisan ballot watchers.
The measures would ban a number of election applications carried out final 12 months to assist folks vote in the course of the coronavirus pandemic, together with drive-through voting and 24-hour and late-night voting.
Voting rights advocates famous that voters of shade used these applications disproportionately.
‘That is why they fled the state,’ Abbott advised Fox Information host Laura Ingraham. ‘As soon as they step again into the state of Texas, they are going to be arrested and dropped at the Texas capital and we might be conducting enterprise.’
Governor Greg Abbott mentioned Monday that the Democrats who fled Texas to keep away from voting on an election invoice can be arrested once they return to the state
At the very least 58 Democrats left Austin to keep away from the vote on two election payments, touching down in Washington D.C. on Monday night in two non-public jets (pictured)
They’d be arrested below a process referred to as ‘a name of the Home’, which permits regulation enforcement to trace down lawmakers who’ve already fled the chamber.
Dustin Burrows, chair of the Home calendar committee, advised The Texas Tribune: ‘It is a unhappy commentary that we could must make the most of a procedural rule to try to pressure many of the Democrats to point out as much as do the job they had been elected to do.’
He mentioned that ‘sadly, the siren name of social media fame and fundraising’ had lured Democrats to D.C.
Abbott was equally scathing of the runaway Democrats.
‘Is not that probably the most un-Texan factor you will have ever heard? Texans working from a battle?’ he mentioned.
‘They’re quitters. It is like throughout a soccer recreation or baseball recreation taking their tools when they’re method behind and simply leaving the sector.
‘That’s not the best way that Texans do issues.’
The Democrats’ departure paralyzed the Texas state home as the legislature requires a quorum of two-thirds of lawmakers be current to conduct enterprise.
It is also akin to a transfer Democrats utilized in 2003 once they fled to neighboring Oklahoma to dam Republicans’ plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts.
Abbott mentioned that their habits was anti-democratic, noting: ‘They’re leaving and abandoning their proper to vote.’
But Abbott vowed that he would ‘proceed calling particular session after particular session’ to pressure the runaways to ‘step as much as vote.’
The coach with the Texas Democrats (proper) pulls into the parking zone of Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport to catch one of many non-public jets (left) to Washington D.C.
Martinez Fischer mentioned he was ready to wait-out a number of 30-day periods, telling CNN he was in it for the lengthy haul.
‘They’re attempting to remove our proper to vote and, and we’re not going to place up with it. We’re going to battle,’ he mentioned.
The jets had been paid for by the Home Democratic caucus, they mentioned – however they’ve begun fundraising to permit them to remain in D.C.
‘They’re nonetheless getting taxpayer-based cash and their staffs are nonetheless getting taxpayer-based cash,’ mentioned Abbott.
‘So they’re nonetheless residing off of the federal government dime even whereas on this journey.
‘All of the whereas, they’re doing fund-raising initiatives on-line, attempting to lift cash for this.’
He mentioned it was ‘hypocrisy’ to attempt ‘utilizing a filibuster to flee the state of Texas to plead with the president to get rid of the filibuster in Washington, D.C.’
Abbott mentioned that they had been mistaken in arguing that the brand new payments would limit voting. He mentioned that Texas was truly growing voting hours, whereas eradicating different methods of voting.
‘What this Texas regulation does would not hinder anyone’s talents to vote,’ he mentioned.
‘Curiously, when Texas is searching for to do is add extra hours to vote.
Texas has 12 days of early voting and hours of which might be expanded, and can ‘make sure that hours are expended on election day additionally – so their total thesis is totally incorrect.’
He repeated his argument that it was simpler to vote in Texas than in Joe Biden’s dwelling state of Delaware, the place there isn’t a early voting.
‘If anyone desires to speak about voter suppression, they need to be speaking about Delaware, not Texas,’ he mentioned.
Earlier on Monday, Abbott issued a press release demanding the Democrats present as much as work and ‘put apart partisan political video games and get again to the job they had been elected to do.’
He added: ‘Texas Democrats’ choice to interrupt a quorum of the Texas Legislature and abandon the Texas State Capitol inflicts hurt on the very Texans who elected them to serve.
‘As they fly throughout the nation on comfortable non-public planes, they depart undone points that may assist their districts and our state.’
The Democrats, in a press release, mentioned they had been performing to forestall ‘harmful’ laws.
Kamala Harris, the vice chairman, praised them for his or her ‘extraordinary braveness and dedication’ for American voter rights.
‘I applaud them standing for the rights of all People, and all Texans to specific their voice via their vote, unencumbered,’ she mentioned.
‘I do consider that preventing for the fitting to vote is as American as apple pie,’ she mentioned.
The Texas state Home Democratic caucus mentioned in a press release: ‘At the moment, Texas Home Democrats stand united in our choice to interrupt quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature pressure via harmful laws that will trample on Texans’ freedom to vote.
‘We at the moment are chickening out to our nation’s Capitol. We live on borrowed time in Texas.
‘We want Congress to behave now to cross the For the Individuals Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to guard Texans – and all People – from the Trump Republicans’ nationwide battle on democracy,’ they added.
Julie Johnson, a Democrat within the Texas Home of Representatives, posted a selfie on a coach bus that drove a gaggle of lawmakers to the Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport. Featured within the picture was a case of Miller Lite beer.
Texas State Rep. Julie Johnson posted a selfie or her and different Democratic lawmakers in a coach bus as they fled the state on non-public jets for Washington D.C. to forestall Texas Republicans from passing voting integrity laws
Featured within the picture posted to Twitter is a case of Miller Lite beer occupying a seat on the bus
‘On the subject of defending our proper to vote, all playing cards are on the desk,’ Johnson tweeted.
‘We broke #quorum once more as we speak as a result of the Gov & #txlege Repubs selected to bully Texans out of our constitutional rights as an alternative of discovering options to issues that actually exist.’
White Home press secretary Jen Psaki mentioned Monday it was ‘actually’ attainable that some administration officers would meet with the runaway Democrats.
She known as the brand new voting legal guidelines ‘the worst problem to our democracy because the Civil Conflict.’
The state’s Democrats already staged one profitable walkout to defeat the election laws prioritized by Abbott.
They quietly left the state home ground within the ultimate minutes of the common legislative session that resulted in Might, breaking quorum and forcing Republicans to adjourn with out passing the measure.
Abbott known as the state legislature again for a particular session to cope with the 2 measures he desires handed.
Senate Republicans in Washington blocked Democrats nation-wide voting rights invoice earlier this summer time.
As of June 21, 17 states enacted 28 new legal guidelines that limit entry to the vote this 12 months alone, based on the Brenner Center for Justice.
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