Texas State Rep. Nicole Collier

Just now they are threatening her with a felony charge for talking to Gavin Newsom on the phone.

[quote] From the bathroom in the Texas House @NicoleCollier95 just tried to join a press conference with Calif Gov. @GavinNewsom when she was abruptly interrupted and told she was committing a felony and needed to end the call immediately

That's not really legal. If she's not able to leave, you would think they could be charged with false imprisonment or some such crime. Also, they haven't given her a hearing on this, so no due process.

That guy who's in charge of the DNC really needs to avoid TV or videos or whatever. He looked weak . Let Gavin and Corey handle things. How dare they stop her from talking on the phone and intrude on her in the bathroom and threaten her. Texas is a shithole. I wish they would secede.

[quote] Burrows, the speaker, has been more conciliatory than statewide Republicans who’ve said, “Arrest them all, throw them out of office.” Burrows hasn’t been saying that. I think he knows that at the end of the day, he has to sit down with Democrats, at least to some extent, and put the House back together. But his move (sending DPS officers with Democrats) was a light touch compared to what Republicans wanted him to do. And Collier saying no was her calling Burrows’ bluff.

[quote] What worries me is that the Republican desire to see Democrats punished is much greater than I expected. There’s real anger that may not be satisfied just by making them go home with a police escort. I wonder how that affects the House. It wasn’t working well anyway. Bipartisan cooperation has been in severe decline in recent years. What the president pushed them to do may have broken it further. Going forward, I wonder if Democrats turning Collier into a hero makes the GOP want to punish them more. Right now both sides are lashing out. And I don’t know where that ends.

[quote] He’s not in a good spot. Texas is a very Republican state, and the least Republican part of it is the Texas House. For years it’s been a bit of a check on whatever other people wanted to push through. Republican activists have put a lot of pressure on knocking over the current speaker and getting their own one, which has been the major friction in Texas politics for maybe 15 years. Burrows has a lot of people gunning for him, and he’s being asked to do the most with this redistricting. The governor approves, the Texas Senate will approve, but Burrows has to pass it in the House while also maintaining its integrity. At the end of the day, he’ll still need to work with some Democrats next session. So he’s attempting to play it with a softer touch.

Hey, Texas always says they have their own "rules" and Abbott and his minions are very high handed claiming right. So use it against him. Play his game. Claim your rights and get in his face and be fucking outrageous on live TV. Let them try to keep the media out.

[quote]Also, they haven't given her a hearing on this, so no due process.

Due process is a thing of the past with MAGA now.

Oh my God, R1--that is TERRIFYING.

Truly terrifying.

The Texas State House has just passed its gerrymandering bill. It will now be sent to the State Senate, where it will also pass.

Also today, Obama came out in favor of California gerrymandering. The gloves are finally coming off for Democrats.

The GOP is basically holding the Dems prisoner--Comply or else be arrested. This is madness!

[quote]Also today, Obama came out in favor of California gerrymandering. The gloves are finally coming off for Democrats.

Good little GOP henchman Arnold Schwarthsodhgadnager is going lobby Californians AGAINST doing the same in that state. Something about keeping democracy alive. Of course, Arnold isn't rushing to do that in Texas.

[bold]Texas Democrats took their state trooper escorts to one unexpected spot[/bold]

While other Democrats had a lock-in on the House floor, Reps. Venton Jones and Terry Meza took them to a Dallas gay bar.

story at link

California and New York vs. Texas and Florida

Just hearing of this madness-frightening.