State Rep. Ann Johnson:
So, one, we are taking this day by day. And the special session was supposed to go through the middle of next week, and the governor has indicated that he will try to get the speaker and the lieutenant governor to sine die tomorrow, which means ending that session, and taking away the arrest warrants that are effectively on each of our heads, effectively.
And then it’s up to the governor to call the next. And when he calls it, he has to determine what’s going to be on the special session agenda, meaning, what does he want to talk about? And you are right. We have successfully stopped the clock. We are attempting to defeat this particular special session call. And it is up to Governor Abbott what he wants to put on next.
Personally, as a Democrat, I would like to see us address the issues around public health, around public education, and of course, the flooding that has occurred in Central Texas. But Governor Abbott and Texas Republicans have made it clear the only reason they wanted us there in July was to try to steal five congressional seats and effectively determine the outcome of the election before anybody went to vote.
And so what we have asked for as Democrats is not only to stop that effort, but to raise the national awareness around what Governor Abbott and Trump are attempting to do. And I am grateful to see that, today, Governor Newsom has indicated that they are going to go to the people of the state of California and ask if they are willing to vote to effectively say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
If Texas wants to take this extraordinary step of mid-decade redistricting, which really violates the spirit of the Texas Constitution, then California will match that energy and effectively fight fire with fire. And at a time when the balance and having any check on this administration couldn’t be more important, I am grateful that blue states are stepping up.
