By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX – The 53 Democratic members of the Texas House who Monday staged a walkout to prevent a House quorum have issued a statement regarding their reasons for being no-shows.
With no quorum, the House cannot continue its legislative agenda. House Speaker Tom Craddick has issued a "Call on the House" to keep current members who did show up on or near the House floor. He also accepted a motion to have law enforcement officers find and return the missing members to the Texas House.
The missing Democrats laid the blame for their absenteeism clearly at the feet of U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, who they say is in the midst of a "power grab" that has led the House to put a congressional redistricting bill ahead of the agenda of the state.
To read the statement by the missing House Democrats, click here.