The Texas Legislature is pausing its response to the deadly July 4th floods as a fight over gerrymandering swamps state politics.
House Democrats on Sunday walked out of a 30-day special session, denying Republicans the number of lawmakers necessary to do business, known as a quorum, ahead of a scheduled vote Monday to create new Republican-leaning congressional districts. Top GOP officials responded by threatening to expel Democrats from office.
Lawmakers have not considered legislation related to the flooding that killed 138 people. The redistricting fight left residents who survived the flood frustrated.
“They’re using the special session for redistricting when it’s supposed to be a special session for the flood — that’s insulting,” said Ann Carr, whose home in Ingram, Texas, fronts on the Guadalupe River, which flooded in the middle of the night on July 4.
