Republican Senator Paul Bettencourt Discusses Texas Voting Bill And The State Of Politics

Published: July 28, 2021, 10:54 p.m.

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During the special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott, voting restriction bills, House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 1, were filed. 

The response by the State House Democrats was to pack up and head for Washington DC in a dramatic move to break quorum and block the passage of GOP-backed voting bills. 

Republicans condemned the move and tried to compel Democrats back to Austin.

Meanwhile, Democrats hope national attention will help them advocate for federal voting bills.  Is the walk-out by the Democrats a dereliction of duty or democracy in action?

What’s the fate of the Special Session? And what is the future of Texas politics?

Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt joined Town Square to discuss the major points of the bill and concerns regarding voter fraud and later two Texas Democrats share how the bill has the potential to disenfranchise already vulnerable voters. 

Sen. Paul Bettencourt

  • Republican member of the Texas State Senate from District 7

Dr. Joshua Blank

  • Research Director for the non-partisan Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin

Rep. Ann Johnson

  • Democrat member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 134

Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr.

  • Democrat member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 142

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