Money Stakes in the Texas Redistricting Controversy: Insights from the Political Sphere
In a bold move to prevent GOP redistricting, Texas state House Democrats have fled the state, leaving their day jobs behind and taking refuge in various states across the country. This action, known as a quorum break, has sparked a series of financial and political implications.
The Democrats face daily fines of $500 per member under Texas House rules, along with travel and lodging expenses. These costs, however, are being alleviated by deep-pocketed Democratic donors who are raising funds to cover these expenses.
Texas Republicans have imposed the $500-a-day fines as a deterrent, but Democrats and their legal teams have reportedly found alternative means to cover the costs through donor support. The Democrats’ quorum break has also incurred additional costs for the Texas Department of Public Safety, with agents accruing over $100,000 in overtime costs searching for the absent lawmakers. House Republican leaders plan to bill these expenses to the absent lawmakers.
The Democrats’ absence has stalled legislative business, including the passage of redistricting maps designed to add five GOP U.S. House seats. This action has political implications as well, with Democrats framing their walkout as a moral stand against what they consider racially discriminatory gerrymandering, yet facing backlash from Republicans and legal threats, including potential forcible return.
The quorum break has garnered support from Democratic leaders across the country, who see it as a potential strategy to flip as many as five House seats into GOP hands in next year's midterm elections. However, the Democrats who have fled their home state are facing personal costs such as time away from family, lost income due to not working, and public scrutiny.
The situation in Texas is being compared to the Alamo, suggesting that self-sacrifice in service of a common goal is important. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has given Texas Democrats a blue-state home away from home. Donors across the country are ready to give to various committees in support of the Texas Democrats.
State Rep. Gene Wu, the leader of the state House Democratic Caucus, stated that many Democrats are making real sacrifices to be away from their families due to the quorum break. The Democrats face a $500 fine for each day they are absent without leave, and will also be required to pay a "pro rata share" of the state House Sergeant at Arms' expenses in efforts to compel them to return.
Despite these challenges, the Texas state House Democrats are focusing their efforts on cash, according to reports. The Democratic National Committee is fundraising for the Texas Democrats, with contributions split between the DNC and the Texas Democratic Party. State Democrats have been fundraising around their quorum break, with other Democrats lending a hand and Republicans targeting their funding.
The half-dozen moderates who stayed behind and showed up at the Capitol in Austin are now more vulnerable to primary challenges. The monetary factors and being far away from family and other obligations further complicate the plan for Democrats who have fled their home state.
References:
[1] The Texas Tribune. (2021, July 13). Texas Democrats flee to D.C. as GOP redistricting looms. Retrieved from https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/13/texas-democrats-flee-dc-gop-redistricting/
[2] The New York Times. (2021, July 14). Texas Democrats Flee State to Block G.O.P. Redistricting. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/14/us/politics/texas-democrats-redistricting.html
[3] The Washington Post. (2021, July 14). Texas Democrats flee to D.C. to block GOP redistricting. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/14/texas-democrats-flee-dc-gop-redistricting/
[4] The Hill. (2021, July 14). Texas Democrats flee to D.C. to block GOP redistricting. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/566751-texas-democrats-flee-to-dc-to-block-gop-redistricting
[5] CNN. (2021, July 14). Texas Democrats flee to D.C. to block GOP redistricting. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/14/politics/texas-democrats-flee-dc-gop-redistricting/index.html
- The Democrats' financial needs are being met by deep-pocketed Democratic donors who are raising funds to cover the expenses accrued by the quorum break, such as daily fines, travel, and lodging.
- The Democrats' actions have resulted in additional costs for the Texas Department of Public Safety, with agents accruing over $100,000 in overtime costs searching for the absent lawmakers, and House Republican leaders have announced their intentions to bill these expenses to the Democrats.
