Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes funding for Texas Legislature and its staff as punishment for Democrats' wal

[turbinetree]

Source: Texas Tribune

full headline:
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes funding for Texas Legislature and its staff as punishment for Democrats’ walkout on elections bill

https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/dOxYeesCRGoO_cDkn6Xkp1cpK9Y=/850x570/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/


The governor’s move comes after Democrats walked out of the House in the final days of the regular legislative session to block passage of Senate Bill 7, Abbott’s priority elections bill that would have overhauled voting rights in the state.

BY CASSANDRA POLLOCK JUNE 18, 2021UPDATED: 1 HOUR AGO

Gov. Greg Abbott followed through Friday on a threat to veto a section of the state budget that funds the Texas Legislature, its staffers and legislative agencies.

The governor’s move targeting lawmaker pay comes after House Democrats walked out in the final days of the regular legislative session, breaking quorum, to block passage of Senate Bill 7, Abbott’s priority elections bill that would have overhauled voting rights in the state. The move also killed bail legislation that Abbott had earmarked as a priority.

In a statement, Abbott said that “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.”

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/18/greg-abbott-veto-legislature-democrats/

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He really is a small person, his bunch quit the state during a snow storm......and then he does this before fathers day.....go figure

[Lovie777]

1. Against the Democrats and staff only? . . ..

either way it's illegal.

[Angleae]

3. Sounds like it's the entire legislature.

If that's the case the legislature will simply override the veto.

[howardmappel]

4. Legislature is not in session and only Governor can call a special session

And if he does call a special session, the only items that can be considered are those he chooses.

[TexasTowelie]

10. Which is why there is no reason for Democrats to show up for the special session.

Since redistricting will ultimately be determined by the courts rather than the legislature that eliminates the need to hurry back also. It's unfortunate for the legislative staffers who will have to hunt for jobs and also file for unemployment. Instead of being productive contributors to the state economy, these staffers are going to be treated as political pawns for Abbott's games.

Note: I'm a former state employee and interacted with a few of those staffers during my career.

[monkeyman1]

32. constitutionally lawyer's are going to have field day with his dumb ass !!!

[Skittles]

2. he is a petty little fascist

it DISGUSTS me how anyone could vote for him

[Grokenstein]

18. They punch themselves in the face repeatedly;

HE punches himself in the face repeatedly.

Twinsies!

[Fullduplexxx]

5. They shouldn't have given the gov so much power

[TexasTowelie]

12. Actually, the Texas governor's powers are considered to be very limited compared to governors in

states. The most powerful state official is the lieutenant governor since he presides over the Senate. The governor has already agreed to relinquish some of the emergency powers that he used during the pandemic.

[summer_in_TX]

14. Veto power with no ability to over-ride it sounds pretty darn powerful to me!

Texas's constitution needs an overhaul.

I'd argue the governor's power to appoint also makes him very powerful. Yes, the legislature can refuse to approve an appointment, but that may not be much of an impediment.

He nominates a lot of Hispanic women for positions like Secretary of State. By doing so, they have received strong credentials even if not confirmed which they can use to advance in the Republican party. They see that they have opportunities and have reason to be grateful.

The percentage of Hispanic Republicans in the state is not small. Bush got some 40 percent for one of his terms, if I recall correctly.

Rumor has it, he's planning to springboard to a run for President and turn the Governorship over to the "illustrious" Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

I hope that the electric grid plus vetoing the salaries plus signing the constitutional carry bill allowing nearly anyone carry a gun will mean he has over-reached. But it'll be all hands on deck to push back on the fascism.

[TexasTowelie]

16. The governor has the power to decide what legislation to sign, veto, or allow to become law

without his signature within a 10 day waiting period after the bills are transmitted to the governor. The last clause is the only difference between the governor and the U.S. president who can pocket veto a bill after a legislative session ends. I think that I prefer how Texas addresses this over the national option since it puts the politician on the record for killing the bills sent to him by Congress.

I agree with you regarding the Texas Constitution. I've managed to avoid reading it for 56 years and I don't have sufficient reason to want to try now since I have other activities to enjoy.

[summer_in_TX]

17. Unlike in Congress, if a law is vetoed

the Texas legislature cannot vote to override it. The session has ended, the special session will only consider the items the Governor wants to be considered.

I greatly prefer the opportunity to overcome one man's veto. The Texas Governor's power to veto exceeds that of the President and the legislature won't be back in session to have a chance again for two years.

If they can get it through all the Legislative hurdles then and get it into law, that is.

[oasis]

6. Abbott is the most miserable, bitter person in the state of Texas. nt

[Marcuse]

7. The salary is chump change to Republican legislators who are in the pay of dark money donors.

[summer_in_TX]

8. Horrible.

I hope finally the fascist has overplayed his hand.

[Midnight Writer]

9. The Republican legislators will be "taken care of" by their true paymasters.

[Mr.Bill]

11. The legislature can't function without staff.

Abbot just made himself the most powerless governor in the country.

[George II]

13. I assume this applies to ALL members of the Legislature, so inasmuch as the republicans hold....

....a majority, this hurts his party more than the Democrats.

[Demnation]

15. Abbott is a piece of shit.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

19. This is an asshole move

Link to tweet

[LudwigPastorius]

20. What a gigantic cock.

You know, sometimes, having a life threatening accident makes a person reassess what is important and it makes them want to live out their remaining days trying to make the world a better place.

Other times, it makes someone who was already a mean asshole, just nastier.

[Rhiannon12866]

21. He so needs to be replaced!

By someone who cares about the people he's there to represent - rather than trying to emulate the former guy! Beto, are you listening??

[Bengus81]

22. Endless ass covering from the Feburary FREEZE

That's it Greg, make those idiot Republicans forget all about freezing their asses off with no power for days on end four months ago.

[ananda]

23. Dems would be crazy to show up for any special session.

Really, why should they?

[NCjack]

24. They should show up so they can walk out in front of the TV cameras.

[ananda]

29. That works, for sure!

Good idea

[earthside]

25. Fascism plan and simple.

Right-wing autocrat punishing the legislative branch for exercising its parliamentary prerogatives.

Especially egregious, of course, done because the right-wing party did not immediately get its way.

One party rule is tyranny.

[monkeyman1]

33. this man is mentally challenged!! remind ya of somebody else!!!

[Bayard]

26. How very trumpian of him

Play the game my way or I'll take the ball and go home.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

27. "If you won't play by my rules, I'm going to take my ball and go home." n/t

[bahboo]

28. what a petty little fuck....

[Jilly_in_VA]

30. So, how old

is the petty little shit,12? My middle school grandson is more mature than he is...and he's the baby of the family!

[monkeyman1]

34. I heard he flunked sand box 101 !!!

[yellowdogintexas]

31. I read somewhere that with holding staff pay means no support for the

Special Session, therefore there can't be one.

Anyway, I presume the Democrats will take a trip to New Mexico. About 20 years ago the House members took off for Oklahoma and a few days later the Senate members went to New Mexico

Or the other way around. Doesn't matter, they all hightailed it out of the state.

[LeftInTX]

37. The budget doesn't come into effect until September.

This means that Abbott is gonna call a Special Session this summer...

In 1971 a governor vetoed the budget and forced everyone back in a Special Session to redo it.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

41. I still have my Austin to Ardmore T-shirt that several of the group signed.

And I'm one of the people that would have frozen to death in the Valentine's Day week freeze, if they neighbors hadn't checked on me and called the cops to take us to a shelter. I have an extremely old house with no insulation. Also, for safety reasons, there is no gas and we are all electric. The house was 43 degrees inside when we were rescued.

There was so much ice in the yard and on the streets we would not have been able to drive anywhere.

We were sheltered in a civic center for 2 nights, and then the power went out on Wednesday, and they took us to the local senior citizens' center, which my Dad founded, in my small town. We spent the third night in the local shelter.

Then then took us home Thursday, bc the power was back on, but we still froze for 3 more days because it was still below freezing outside. We had to wear lots of clothes in the house. It didn't warm up at all until the following Sunday.

We really didn't want to end up being popsicles.

Abbott, Paxton, Patrick and all those crooks are scum.

[kimbutgar]

35. And what's so sick and frustrating is he will easily get re elected

Because of the voter suppression. Those who vote against him I feel sorry not so much for his supporters. My husband works with a right winger who is thinking of moving to Texas because he loves Abbott and hates our Governor Newsom. My husband told him he will be happier moving to Texas and should do it as soon as possible.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

36. Let's help them out

http://gofund.me/0f608076

A go fund me page has been set up

[turbinetree]

38. Maybe he should bring a generator and lots of bottled water

Last edited Sun Jun 20, 2021, 02:08 PM - Edit history (1)

and then I would told them / him don't let the door hit you in the ass......

[SpankMe]

39. I have no idea why this isn't a clear separation of powers violation. n/t

[rdking647]

40. the GOP needs a special session more than the dems

Texas is slated to get 2 more congressional seats.
Of course the GOP is going to try and gerrymander the state further to ensure those seats are red.
If teh dems dont show up for a special session on redistricting then the courts will have to do it. or else texas wont get its 2 new congresspeople.

the dems shoudl just refuse to show up at all.