GOV. ABBOTT THREATENS TO CUT FUNDING FOR TEXAS LEGISLATURE AFTER ELECTIONS BILL DIES

  

Governor Greg Abbott is threatening to defund the Texas Legislature after the GOP’s priority elections bill failed to pass.

On Monday, Abbott said on Twitter that he plans to veto Article 10 of the state budget, which funds the legislative branch.  He said in the tweet there will be “no pay for those who abandon their responsibilities.”

This comes after Democrats left the House floor late Sunday night, breaking quorum and blocking passage of legislation that would have imposed stricter election regulations.

Democrats quickly condemned Abbott’s threat, with State Representative Donna Howard of Austin saying defunding the legislature would “eliminate the branch of government that represents the people and basically create a monarchy.”

Abbott in a statement said he had declared election integrity and bail reform to be “must-pass emergency items” at the beginning of the legislative session, and called it “deeply disappointing and concerning” that neither bill reached his desk.  He said these two items will be added to the agenda for a special session, but did not say when that special session would take place.