The Texas House of Representatives has reached a quorum for the first time since the Democratic strike

Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan announced Thursday that the House has reached a quorum for the first time since then. Democratic Party Flee the state to prevent the passage of a controversial Republican voting bill.

In July, more than 50 Texas House Democrats left Texas to block the bill by vetoing a quorum-the minimum number of members of the House of Representatives required to carry out any official business.Texas Senate The bill has been passed.As long as the quorum is not broken again, it is likely to be passed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives soon and signed into law when it reaches the Republican governor’s desk. Greg Abbott.

“Members, this has been a very long summer. We have experienced a lot,” said Phelan from the House of Representatives when the quorum was reached before the recess on Thursday night. Washington post“I thank the members who reached the quorum today. Now is the time for us to work for the great state of Texas.”

It is not clear when the House of Representatives will consider the controversial bill, although the current special session is scheduled to resume at 4 pm on Monday. Democrats described the legislation as a voter suppression bill and pointed out that it would limit voting opportunities under certain circumstances and might intimidate voters by empowering party poll observers. Republicans Said that the bill aims to ensure the integrity of the election.

The bill seems almost certain to pass before the quorum is broken by a last-minute strike by House Democrats at the end of the legislative session in late May. Abbott quickly ordered a 30-day special meeting, prompting 52 Democrats to flee the state for Washington, DC on July 12. The first special meeting ended without reaching a quorum. Abbott quickly ordered additional special meetings, which are currently underway.

Last week, Ferran signed a civil warrant for arrest, hoping to force the elusive Democrats to return to work.A judge temporarily blocked the execution of the order, but Texas Supreme Court Overturn the decision this week. Although some Democrats have returned to Texas in early August, enough people have stayed away from the state capitol and continue to refuse the House of Representatives to reach a quorum until Thursday.

After reaching a quorum, some Democrats insisted that the months-long stalemate had been successful and could lead to Congress Pass Democratic vote bills like the “Bill for the People”-due to the obstruction of the bill’s rules and the opposition of moderate Democrats like the senator, this legislation has little real chance of being passed in the evenly distributed Senate. Joe Manchin West Virginia.

“I am proud of the Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives,” former U.S. Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke tweeted. “They have done much more than we have ever asked for to stop suppressing voters and give Congress time to take action. Now is the time for the President and the Senate to complete this work. Pass for the People’s Bill and John Lewis. Right behavior.”

Weekly newspaper Reach out to Texas Democratic Party Comment.