Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows called the chamber into session for a second day, but again lacked a quorum, with Democrats were absent in protest of redistricting proposals that flip five congressional seats from blue to red.
Burrows said he would try again on Friday to hold a session at quorum. He said the state’s Department of Public Safety was working to “compel their attendance” after he signed civil arrest warrants on Monday. Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday called the Democrats’ protest “crazy bluster” and said the state would push ahead with redrawing maps.
In a call with CNBC on Tuesday morning, President Trump said Republicans were “entitled” to those seats in Texas.
Sen. John Cornyn appealed to the FBI for its help in returning Democrats to Texas to establish a quorum.
Facing fines for not showing up to vote, Texas state Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., who fled the state with more than 50 others said: “I’ll pay that price for America.”
Aside from Texas redistricting, Trump also told the “Squawk Box” anchors that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would not be his next Fed chair. And he said banks have turned him away and revived allegations of discrimination against his supporters by large banks while previewing a new executive order to punish those companies.
The president is slated to sign an executive order on Tuesday afternoon.
Follow along all day for updates.
