AUSTIN, Texas — Texas House Democrats spent more than $1 million from various campaign coffers to fund their quorum break in July, when nearly 60 lawmakers left the state for Washington in an effort to kill a GOP-backed elections bill.
The money went toward two rented private planes, chartered vehicles, lodging and event space. It covered food, office supplies and COVID-19 testing materials. Some money went toward media consultants and security guards at the hotel where the lawmakers were staying.
New campaign finance reports filed last Tuesday with the Texas Ethics Commission offered the first glimpse of how much lawmakers spent — and raised — on their cross-country quest to derail the GOP priority measure. Later in the summer, Republicans approved new voting and election regulations, now in effect, after Democrats eventually returned to Austin and reestablished a quorum.
