Suppression Session News Today

The Texas state House formed a quorum Thursday, following a six-week long break in business after more than 50 Democrats fled to Washington, D.C. in an attempt to bar the passage of a controversial voting reform bill.

Not exceeding his authority, which we believe that were going to be vindicated when the court makes that ruling? >> representative martinez-fisher. can you talk to me about the plan as the new special session kicks off. what are you planning to do? >> sure, great question, alicia. first and foremost the new session was off to a start the second suppression session, there was no quorum. only 82 members of the house present. there were even a couple who probably were voted for that werent even the...

>> looks like -- there she is. go ahead, representative. >> we continue to urge the senate and urge congress to act and pass voting rights legislation now. we have bought time, weve held the line in texas. our governor has already called another suppression session, tomorrow. it starts at noon tomorrow, in texas. so, they are hell-bent on passing legislation that will make it harder for eligible texans to access the ballot box, and that is why we need federal legislation to protect, not just tex...

World has seen and known and acknowledged that he is innocent. he has been saying it for 43 years and no one believed him until now. >> we believe him. absolutely. well, this audience believes him and will want to know how he fares, thank you for spending time with us and give him our regards and we are praying for him. still ahead, texas kboncher greg abbott announces another special suppression session and election officials in georgia, trying to purge people from the roles, most of color, of ...

Jurisdiction of the state police. theyre welcome to come and visit the nations capital. but we are here as free citizens exercising our first amendment rights to organ as elected officials we are also here to lead a discussion on voting rights in america and why we need a national solution. >> tell me what your plans are in washington. youre talking about demonstrating the urgency, the need for the for the people act. the need for a federal back stop for voting rights. obviously the dramatic mov...

Were always willing to talk, but as you mentioned in your layout, our hard-working men and women on the committee were effectively shut out of the process to even bring ideas to have some kind of normal discussion on voter suppression. there is nothing special about this session in austin. it is a suppression session.sith they are trying to take away our p right to vote, and we are not going to put up with it, and we are going to fight. >> do you expect they will try to compel you, literally com...

To pass the for the people right, but you are also there is part of a tactical remover to block republicans from passing with their otherwise going to pass in the state of texas. how long do you think you have to stand a texas in order to accomplish the second goal? >> >> well, you know. were dealing with a really obstinate governor who wants to run his primary campaign at our expense. were not gonna put up that. i think every men and women on this bus packed their biggest suitcase and stuffed a...

I think every man and woman on this bus packed their biggest suitcase and stuffed as much clothes as they could and were united. we have grit. we have resolve. we are determined to find a solution. were always willing to talk but as you mentioned in your layout, our hard working men and women on the committee were effectively shut out of the process to even bring ideas to have some kind of normal discussion on voter suppression. there is nothing special about this session in austin. it is a supp...

I want to get practical. if republicans walked out of the statehouse because they didnt want to pass a bill in a state democrats were in charge, would you feel the same? >> reporter: depends, if it was a bill on voting rights, absolutely. i think there are republicans that should have gone with the democrats. bottom line, i dont see voting rights as a partisan issue. i see this as a democracy issue. theres an existential crisis around democratic participation. we judged health of democracy based...

They have. now, this is a little different than we saw back in may. last time democrats staged that walkout two hours before the end of a legislative session. there wasnt any time to round them up and force them back into the chamber in austin. this time around theres close to a month left on the clock and according to texas house rules, lawmakers at least theoretically can be compelled to come back to the state capitol if they are not present during the session. in other words, republicans mayb...