Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vowed Monday to veto funding for the state legislature in response to state House Democrats walking out to block Republicans' voting restrictions bill.
Driving the news: Abbott had vowed to sign the bill into law, but Democrats prevented it from passing with Sunday night's walkout before a midnight voting deadline.
I will veto Article 10 of the budget passed by the legislature.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 31, 2021
Article 10 funds the legislative branch.
No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities.
Stay tuned.
What he's saying: The governor said in a separate statement Monday that the sweeping voting rights bill would be added to a "special session agenda."
- "I expect legislators to have worked out their differences prior to arriving back at the Capitol so that they can hit the ground running to pass legislation related to these emergency items and other priority legislation," Abbott said.
The other side: State Rep. John Bucy (D) vowed to "do everything we can to stop voter suppression," per the New York Times.
- Fellow state Democratic Rep. Gene Wu tweeted that he wasn't bothered "about my $600 a month," but he noted that "there are thousands of workers here with families to support."
- "This is petty and tone-deaf even for Texas," he added.
