Texas Supreme Court denies Democrats' request to overturn Gov. Greg Abbott's veto of Legislature's

[TexasTowelie]

Source: Texas Tribune

The Texas Supreme Court on Monday denied a request from a group including more than 60 House Democrats, the House Democratic Caucus and several state employees asking the justices to overturn Gov. Greg Abbott’s veto of legislative funding in the upcoming biennium.

Abbott vetoed the funding, which effects the salaries and benefits of some 2,100 state employees, in June after House Democrats walked out during the final days of the legislative session in May and killed two of his priority bills on elections and changing the state’s bail system.

Democrats challenged Abbott’s veto in court, arguing that allowing it to move forward stripped their power as a “co-equal branch of government.” But the Texas Supreme Court on Monday sided with Abbott on his veto that will effectively defund the Texas Legislature, its staffers and legislative agencies later this year.

State officials on Friday extended the funding for another month, meaning the legislative employees will continue to be paid for through Sept. 30.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/19/texas-supreme-court-article-x-greg-abbott/

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Full title: Texas Supreme Court denies Democrats' request to overturn Gov. Greg Abbott's veto of Legislature's funding

[FarPoint]

1. Now what?????????

[TexasTowelie]

2. Constitutional crisis.

It also means that they can't work on redistricting unless the legislative staffers that do that work decide to volunteer their time with the hope of getting paid (aka The Trump Plan).

[FarPoint]

3. So we have some leverage....

This is a slow burn thing....

[Desert grandma]

4. This is not at all surprising.

This SC is composed of a bunch of radical ideologue wing nuts. Evangelical righteous bigots. I say that knowing my nephew is on that court, appointed by Abbott. It is so sad. He is a Yale law school graduate who has been brainwashed by the evangelical BS. Very sad.

[Karma13612]

6. Oh heavens,

You must be so conflicted knowing that your Nephew achieved such an important office, but is acting the opposite of Democratic values.

[Desert grandma]

7. More saddened, really.

He had great promise, but from an early age was steeped in the evangelical far right "born again" BS. I hoped that college would offer him a more balanced view, but it was not to be. His mom and dad are VERY strong Republicans, and precinct captains in Texas where they live. Frankly, it really is quite shocking. The mom is a CPA, and dad is a lawyer. They are NOT uneducated people. They are my in laws. I think my husband is the only one that escaped this brainwashing. His brother and sister are nice people as long as you don't discuss anything political. Thank goodness we live in different states and do not see them often (by choice).

[Karma13612]

12. I sympathize!

My brother and sister-in-law are very religious. And they have really alienated themselves from the rest of the family. Quite sad really.

But, it’s their choice and I can’t stand to listen to their convoluted thought-process!

[FBaggins]

10. It's "not at all surprising" for a much simpler reason

If the legislature wants to overturn a veto... they have the power to do so.

The state courts don't play that role.

Was someone honestly expecting a court to say that the governor can't veto a bill?

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

5. That's a fucking blatant bullshit ruling.

[cstanleytech]

8. Well what did you expect the Court to do exactly? They do not have the power to pass spending bills

as that is an area who's power is solely within that of the elected legislature.

[Calista241]

11. Nah, it was an end run around the Texas Constitution.

The Texas legislature has the power to override the Governor's veto. They need to have a 2/3 majority of both houses vote in favor of the law, and then it will go away. No judge is going to do the legislature's job for them.

[Firestorm49]

9. Interesting. How many times have we read about state wide referendums being ignored

or overturned by a political party simply because they don’t like the outcome. Apparently, unless it’s challenged, the popular vote can be shit canned. Yet in this case, it seems to have “great significance.” What a joke.

[BlueIdaho]

13. Waiting for this shit to backfire in 3... 2... 1... nt.