It's Time to Restore Accountability in the Texas House

BY Abraham George

When Texans send their representatives to Austin, they expect one thing: show up and do your job. Represent your constituents. Cast your vote. That’s the bare minimum of public service. But time and again, Texas Democrats have walked away from that responsibility—literally—by breaking quorum, fleeing the state, and grinding the people’s business to a halt.

This isn’t just a stunt. It’s a betrayal of their oath of office. Texans deserve accountability, not excuses. And the Texas House has the authority—and the obligation—to deliver it. That starts by stripping quorum-busting Democrats of the perks they keep enjoying: vice chairmanship budgets and seniority privileges.

In 2021, Democrats abandoned their desks and ran off to Washington, D.C., rather than debate and vote on election integrity. While Texans waited, the House sat paralyzed. They didn’t just skip work—they abandoned the very people who elected them.

Let’s be clear: quorum isn’t a gimmick. It’s what keeps the Legislature functioning. To deliberately break quorum is to sabotage the institution itself. If it’s tolerated once, it will happen again.

Every session, the Speaker hands out chairmanships and vice chairmanships. For years, Democrats benefitted from those rewards. This session, at least, chairmanships went only to Republicans—but Democrats were handed a shiny new prize: expanded vice chairmanship budgets and authority.

Establishment Republicans claimed this would “keep Democrats in line” for key votes. That was a lie. These same Democrats voted against Jocelyn’s Law, against requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and then skipped town to block the will of the majority.

So why are we still rewarding them? Why are taxpayers funding perks for lawmakers who refuse to even show up for work? Vice chairmanships should serve the people of Texas—not serve as consolation prizes for Democrats who put their party before their state.

Some will whine that stripping these perks is “divisive.” Wrong. Accountability is what unites Texans. Everyone knows the rules, and everyone pays the price when they’re broken. This isn’t about silencing Democrats—they’re free to debate, vote, and persuade. What they’re not free to do is sabotage the process itself.

If House leadership refuses to act, Democrats will do this again. Texans expect better. The Speaker and his team must show courage. Removing vice chair budgets and seniority is the bare minimum if we want to protect the Texas House from abuse.

As Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, I’ll say it plainly: our Party stands for accountability, responsibility, and respect for the rule of law. We are not asking for symbolic gestures—we are demanding real consequences.

Texans elected Republicans to govern, to pass laws, and to defend conservative values. When Democrats sabotage that, Republicans have a duty to respond. When Democrats fled to Washington, they revealed their true loyalty—not to Texans, but to the liberal national machine. It was a disgrace and a slap in the face to their voters.

Now House leadership has a choice. Strip these perks, send a clear message, and restore integrity to the institution. Show Texans that abandoning your duty carries consequences. Anything less is unacceptable.

Texans are watching. They want action, not excuses. The House must put an end to quorum-busting games once and for all.