Several Democratic lawmakers from Texas have fled that state and are staying temporarily in Illinois. Capitol News Illinois reports the move is part of a strategy to prevent the Texas Legislature from voting on a congressional redistricting plan designed to give Republicans an additional five seats in the Lone Star State.
Texas lawmakers are currently meeting in a special session and President Donald Trump has urged them to pass a new map to strengthen the G-O-P’s majority in the U.S. House. But as long as the Democrats remain out of the state, the Texas House cannot muster a quorum to vote on the redistricting plan, or anything else.
The lawmakers flew in to Chicago Sunday night and were greeted by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who said they are welcome to stay in Illinois for as long as they want.
