New Bill Aims To Hold Lawmakers Accountable During Sessions

An effort is underway in Texas to make it less profitable for lawmakers who play hooky.

Limits on Fundraising

State Republicans want to make it less profitable to break quorum during a legislative session. A new bill would limit lawmakers from raising or spending campaign donations if they are not at the capitol during a legislative session.

The Bill’s Author

Republican Texas Rep. Matt Shaheen of Plano filed HB 18 which prohibits lawmakers from receiving more than the $221 daily legislative pay while breaking quorum. Legislators found in violation would face a fine of up to $5,000.

Outside Influence

Texas Democrats prevented the state’s House of Representatives from moving forward with a redrawn congressional map. Most of the Democrats who left Texas ended up in the Democrat run state of Illinois. The issue in Texas was larger than Democrat lawmakers leaving the state. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into whether “Beto” O’Rourke’s political group’s contributions to the House Democratic Caucus members were breaking the law.

A Judge’s Order

Paxton accused Powered by People, of running a financial influence scheme and asked a Texas district court to bar O’Rourke from fundraising for Democrats. The judge issued a temporary restraining order banning O’Rourke from fundraising with the group. However, at a weekend event, O’Rourke encouraged rally-goers to donate to his organization via text message to support the Democrats who left the state.

O’Rourke’s Actions

In front of a crowd at a Fort Worth rally, Beto said, “He tried to stop us from holding this rally here today in Fort Worth, he tried to stop us from raising money to support these Democrats in the fight he lost and one of the worst things that we could do to Ken Paxton is to right now choose to donate, to have the backs of these fighters. He is trying to stop us from raising the resources they [Democrats] need to ultimately prevail and come through and we are not going to let him stop us. Are you with me on that?”