After Democrats thwarted Texas Republicans' redistricting plan with their absence during a special session, Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called lawmakers back to begin a new session at noon on Friday.
Texas Democrats who left the state nearly two weeks ago have denied their Republican colleagues the required attendance to conduct business and vote on Trump's redistricting agenda. But they have said they would to return to Austin for another session once California Democrats release a new plan that they've been shaping behind closed doors.
Abbott and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows have accused Democratic lawmakers of abandoning their posts and preventing a legislative response to devastating floods that killed more than 130 people last month.
“Delinquent House Democrats ran away from their responsibility to pass crucial legislation to benefit the lives of Texans,” Abbott said in a statement Friday, without mentioning redistricting.
