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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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WEDNESDAY || 8/6/2025
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P.S. Some personal news: Amy and I are expecting our first child -- a boy!
“If something of importance is known in Texas, Matt knows it. With a decline in the number of credible news organizations, the Must Read Texas morning email is indispensable for anyone that wants to continue to be informed.” – Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
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TOP NEWS
“Gov. Greg Abbott asks Texas Supreme Court to expel House Democratic leader who left state,” Texas Tribune's Eleanor Klibanoff -- "Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from office, an unprecedented escalation in Republicans’ efforts to resume business in the Legislature and advance new congressional maps.
At least 50 House Democrats have left the state to prevent the chamber from obtaining a quorum — the minimum number of members necessary to undertake legislative business — in an effort to delay the passage of new congressional lines that could net five more seats for Republicans. The unusual mid-decade redistricting effort comes at the behest of President Donald Trump and his political team, despite initial reluctance from Abbott and the majority of Texas’ GOP congressional delegation.
Democrats left the state Sunday afternoon, ahead of a Monday vote to advance the bill. Wu, as leader of the House Democrats, announced that “this corrupt special session is over” and vowed to stay out of the state long enough to allow the session's remaining two weeks to run out.
In his legal filing, Abbott argued that amounts to an abandonment of office and is sufficient grounds to have Wu’s seat vacated.
“What is at stake here? Nothing less than the future of Texas,” Abbott wrote. “If a small fraction of recalcitrant lawmakers choose to run out the clock today, they can do so for any, and every, Regular or Special Session, potentially bankrupting the State in an attempt to get their way.”
Wu argued that denying a quorum "was not an abandonment of my office," but "a fulfillment of my oath" of office to abide by the Constitution.
"When a governor conspires with a disgraced president to ram through a racist gerrymandered map, my constitutional duty is to not be a willing participant," Wu said in a statement, in which he accused Abbott of seeking to "silence my dissent by removing a duly-elected official from office."
Attorney General Ken Paxton, who threatened to file similar legal actions earlier in the day against multiple House Democrats, followed Abbott's emergency petition by sending his own letter to the state Supreme Court hours later, in which he argued that Abbott lacked the authority to request the removal.
Paxton wrote that while he "appreciates the Governor’s passion" for restoring a quorum, state law permits only the attorney general or a local county or district attorney to bring what's known as a quo warranto proceeding, which seeks a member's removal on the grounds that they have abandoned their office.
In the letter, Paxton said he would take action against the absent legislators if the House continued to lack a quorum on Friday, the deadline set by House Speaker Dustin Burrows.
Abbott clarified in a social media post later in the night that his filing sought quo warranto through a provision in the Texas Constitution and a separate portion of government code, which he said would give his office the proper authority. He also attached a letter addressed to the state Supreme Court in the post that stated "at least 500 years of common law" made it clear the governor's office could make the filing.
Paxton has previously acknowledged that this would likely be a lengthy and complicated process, telling conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that they’d have to bring individual lawsuits in each district.
“We'd have to go through a court process, and we'd have to file that maybe in districts that are not friendly to Republicans,” Paxton said on Monday. “So it's a challenge because every district would be different.”
If a judge were to find that the seats were vacant, they would be filled through a special election.
The Supreme Court of Texas is entirely Republican, and Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, appointed in January, was formerly Abbott’s general counsel. When he appointed Blacklock to the bench in 2018, Abbott said he “wanted to make sure that the person I appointed was going to make decisions that I know how they are going to decide.” Blacklock has said that was more a reflection of their shared judicial philosophy.
In 2021, Blacklock authored an opinion for the court that said the Texas Constitution enables the possibility of a so-called “quorum break,” although it also allows for consequences to bring members back." Texas Tribune
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TOP NEWS
“Bomb threat made to House Democrats’ hotel in Illinois” DMN ($)
#TXLEGE
“House Democrats helped Dustin Burrows win the gavel. Their departure from the state marks a pivotal moment for him” Texas Tribune
“Texas House committee discusses flood bills despite standstill” Texas Tribune
“New bill calls for stricter safety rules at Texas RV parks where over 40 died in Hill Country floods” Hou Chron ($)
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Solicitor General Files Request with Texas Supreme Court as Paxton Vacations in Europe” Center Square
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Austin considers civilian staff to fill police roles amid officer shortage” AAS ($)
“Fort Worth council moves to disband DEI programs under Trump pressure” DMN ($)
TEXANS IN DC
“Cornyn presses FBI to help Texas bring back Democrats who left state” The Hill
BUSINESS NEWS
“Cedar Park's Firefly reportedly to begin trading tomorrow under ticker "FLY"” AAS ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> HOU CHRON: "Greg Abbott sues to remove Houston lawmaker for leading redistricting quorum break" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "Texas Baptist leaders debate implications of Trump's immigration policies" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Texas dispute highlights nation’s long history of partisan gerrymandering. Is it legal?" DMN
> THE TEXAN: "Gov. Abbott Petitions Texas Supreme Court to Vacate Quorum-Breaking House Democratic Leader's Seat" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "‘Bathroom Bill’ Banning Biological Males from Women’s Spaces Passes Texas Senate Committee" THE TEXAN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "$1.4B bond on RISD board agenda for Aug. meeting" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> THE TEXAN: "Texas House Priority Flooding Response Set for Committee Hearing Despite Quorum Break" THE TEXAN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Gov. Abbott sues to remove head of quorum-breaking Texas House Democrats from office" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> THE TEXAN: "Kerr County Proposes Maintaining Tax Rate with Increased Salaries for County Employees, Officials" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "Texas Senators Take Up Bill Blocking Release of Unsubstantiated Complaints Against Police" THE TEXAN
> DMN: "Gov. Greg Abbott asks Texas Supreme Court to remove House Democratic Chair Gene Wu" DMN
> FWST: "Commissioner Alisa Simmons opposes closure of Tarrant County Human Services Department" FWST
> SAEN: "Cornyn asks FBI to help round up Texas Democrats who fled over redistricting" SAEN
> DMN: "Wilonsky: Following City Hall’s threats, Deep Ellum landlord locks out Rodeo Dallas" DMN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Richardson City Council, staff discuss budget challenges for upcoming fiscal year" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> KXAN: "Austin city council signals a tax rate election is coming, but for how much?" KXAN
> SA REPORT: "Bexar County puts funding for new Spurs arena on November ballot" SA REPORT
> KXAN: "Texas senator calls on FBI to track down state lawmakers" KXAN
> DMN: "Texas Christian University announces free tuition for qualifying Texas families" DMN
> TX TRIB: "Hundreds of old EV batteries have new jobs in Texas: Stabilizing the power grid" TX TRIB
> HOU CHRON: "New Willis ISD campus has no water a week before school starts" HOU CHRON
> SAEN: "620 days to produce 1 memo on Trump's Qatari jet: Estimate sparks lawsuit" SAEN
> FWST: "WalkerHughes Deepens Commitment to Acquired Agencies With Strategic Hire of Alison Heitzmans" FWST
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
> MLB: Houston 7, Miami 3
> MLB: Texas 2, New York 0
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 1:35pm: MLB: New York at Texas
> 3:40pm: MLB: Houston at Miami
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
None.
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Altuve and Diaz homer to lead the Astros over the Marlins 7-3" AP
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros send AJ Blubaugh to minors to make room for Spencer Arrigghetti" Hou Chron ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Eovaldi allows 1 hit, Tellez single helps Rangers spoil Judge’s return in 2-0 win over Yankees" AP
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has not spoken with Micah Parsons following public trade request" AP
HOUSTON TEXANS: "A setback for offensive line as Cam Robinson is injured" Hou Chron ($)
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: "Spurs fill final two ways slots with familiar faces" SAEN ($)
DALLAS WINGS: "Wings guard Paige Bueckers says she has a pulled back muscle and will take it ‘day to day’" AP
AUSTIN FC: "Austin FC trades for international roster spot in signal it might add another player" AAS ($)
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