MRT 8/11/25 (free): Burrows: DPS Staking Out Homes of Missing Dems // ICE to Open Largest Detention Facility at Fort Bliss // PUC Sues AG Paxton // Cornyn vs. Smithsonian

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BY: @MattMackowiak 

MONDAY | 8/11/205

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• TOP NEWS  

“Texas House Speaker says state troopers are staking out the homes of missing Democrats,” Austin American-Statesman's John C. Moritz -- "With the Democratic quorum break entering its second week, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said Monday that troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety have been dispatched statewide to stake out the homes of the absent members in the effort to return them to the Capitol.

And the state law enforcement agency has also established a toll-free tip for the members of the public to report sightings of any Democrats who are refusing to show up in Austin but who have not joined the dozens of others who have left the state.

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The speaker warned the financial cost to absent Democrats is rising by the day. In addition the $500 daily fines owed by the quorum breakers, House rules require absent members to repay the costs of bringing them back to Austin.

"Understand that we are keeping receipts for every gallon of gas, every mile traveled, and every hour of overtime associated with the pursuit of these missing members," said Burrows, a Lubbock Republican who is in his first term as the chamber's presiding officer.

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“Those breaking quorum will be held financially responsible for the cost they have created, not the taxpayers," he added. "To those absent members, you can go to another city, another state, even another time zone, but you cannot escape responsibility for people of Texas, eventually you will be here."

Enough Democrats are missing to stall progress on the Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan that is part of the 30-day special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott. The maps would give Republicans five additional winnable U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms.

Nine of the 62 House Democrats were in the chamber Monday, but the House was still short of the 100 members needed to conduct business. In all, 96 of the 150 members registered present. A 97th, Cypress Republican Tom Oliverson, was in the Capitol Monday but was not in the House for the electronic roll call.

Present members simply milled around the chamber floor for the few minutes the House was in session. Some expressed frustration that all of the items added to the special session agenda are being held up with the Aug. 19 end date looming.

"We want to do the work we were called here to do," said state Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco. "But, obviously, that's been impossible."

State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, said his frustration level is "off the charts." But he blames Burrows and his leadership team for what he described as a timid response to the quorum break, as much as the absent Democrats.

"Not one serious punishment has been meted out," Harrison said. "No Democrat has lost their committee assignment, no Democrat has been busted from a (committee) vice chairmanship."

State Rep. Cody Vasut, the Angleton Republican who chairs the select House committee responsible for redistricting, said he is confident any Democrat who could be located in Texas would be delivered to the House. Democrats in other states are outside the jurisdiction of Texas law enforcement officials.

Burrows, in his remarks to the chamber, noted that several bills related to providing relief for the parts of the Hill Country devastated by the July 4 deadly flooding would be eligible for a floor debate on Tuesday, but that could only happen if enough members showed up to reach a quorum.

"These are not symbolic bills," Burrows said. "They are critical measures that would expand the powers of the Texas Division of Emergency Management to improve emergency response across the state, create the Texas Interoperability Council, which would help local governments acquire key communication equipment to better coordinate response efforts (and) assist communities with purchasing and upgrading emergency communication systems."

Democrats have said blaming them for stalling flood relief legislation is misguided. Republicans could have passed the policies mentioned by Burrows first and then turned their attention to redistricting.

"The only thing Governor Abbott seems to have on his mind is appeasing Donald Trump and continuing to use the citizens of Texas as political pawns in a reckless, partisan game," said state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Houston, in a statement Monday." AAS ($)

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• TOP NEWS

“ICE set to open country’s largest immigrant detention facility in Texas” DMN ($)

“3 dead in North Austin Target shooting, suspect arrested: Officials” AAS ($)

• #TXLEGE  

“Some House Democrats may still be in Texas. Why haven't they been arrested?” Hou Chron ($)

• STATE GOVERNMENT  

“State utility commission sues Texas attorney general to avoid releasing data on crypto companies’ power use” Straight Arrow News

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT  

“San Antonio mayor, council members battle over vote for Spurs arena deal” SAEN ($)

• 2026  

“Republican Party of Texas sets stage to censure members who stepped out of line in likely bid to block them from primary ballot” Texas Tribune

“Gun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera to challenge U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales again in GOP primary” Texas Tribune

• TEXANS IN DC

“Cornyn seeks probe of Smithsonian over space shuttle move” Hou Chron ($)

• BUSINESS NEWS  

“Tesla secures permit key to offering full-scale robotaxi services in Austin” AAS ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> TPR: "The quorum break—and what's next for the Texas Democratic lawmakers" TPR

> HOU CHRON: "West Texas DA could face more than 5 years in prison for smoking weed on TikTok to protest THC ban" HOU CHRON

> KXAN: "Texas Legislature to take another swing at redistricting vote as Democrats extend their walkout" KXAN

> MY RGV: "Commentary: Sen. John Cornyn helps secure border" MY RGV

> HOU CHRON: "The untold origin story of Trump Burger: A $250K murder-for-hire plot, ICE arrest and vaccine scam" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "Man reported missing by family, then deputy hears cries underground, TX cops say" FWST

> EP TIMES: "El Paso Chamber urging Texas Legislature to keep Fort Bliss, airport in District 16" EP TIMES

> HOU CHRON: "Chinese nationals sue Texas over new land ownership ban" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "22-acre dining, retail and office space development coming to Katy-area" HOU CHRON

> TX TRIB: "After Hill Country floods, families face a difficult question: Rebuild, or let go?" TX TRIB

> FWST: "Powerball player just misses $479 million jackpot in Texas — but still wins big" FWST

> FWST: "Toddler, woman killed, gunman dies in hospital in Dallas murder-suicide, police say" FWST

> HOU CHRON: "Houstonians urge Metro to add more buses, boost transit reliability in next budget" HOU CHRON

> DMN: "U.S. tourist who flew to Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny concert fatally shot" DMN

> SA REPORT: "Charter school expands culinary program with Chef Johnny Hernandez’s old food truck" SA REPORT

> DMN: "NYSE, Nasdaq place big bets on ‘Y’all Street’, but TXSE has an ace up its sleeve" DMN

> TX TRIB: "Five years after shedding Confederate moniker, a West Texas high school may be Lee High again" TX TRIB

> HOU CHRON: "Houston VIP experiences at the 2026 FIFA World Cup top out at nearly $25K" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "A 25-year-old man was shot and injured by an officer, Irving police say" FWST

• EXTRA POINTS 

This past weekend's Texas sports scores:
Sat
> MLB: NYY 5, Houston 4
> MLB: Philadelphia 3, Texas 2
> MLS: Houston 2, Austin 2
> MLS: Dallas 2, Portland 0
Sun
> MLB: Houston 7, NYY 1
> MLB: Philadelphia 4, Texas 2
> WNBA: Washington 91, Dallas 78

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: Arizona at Texas
> 7:10pm: MLB: Boston at Houston

Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:30pm: WNBA: Dallas at Indiana (ESPN)
> 7:05pm: MLB: Arizona at Texas
> 7:10pm: MLB: Boston at Houston

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Texas is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 for first time, edging Penn St, Ohio St; 10 SEC teams ranked" AP

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Alexander allows 1 hit in 6 innings, Altuve hits 250th career homer as Astros beat Yankees 7-1" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "Phillies sweep Rangers with Wheeler’s strong outing and Sosa’s homer" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "Ranking Nathan Eovaldi’s competition as Rangers’ ace chases the AL Cy Young Award" DMN ($)

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys put guard Rob Jones on injured reserve, sign RB Malik Davis to add depth" DMN ($)

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Will McClay explains the silver lining of Cowboys’ long list of major injury rehabs" DMN ($)

HOUSTON TEXANS: "Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan suffers knee injury in practice, leading to emotional scene" Hou Chron ($)

DALLAS WINGS: "Iriafen scores a career-high 23 points and the Washington Mystics rally to beat the Dallas Wings" AP