AWOL Texas Democrats divided after four members return home, infuriating the rest



The Texas Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C., are showing signs of division as some of their number returned to Austin, infuriating their colleagues.

At least four Democrats who returned to the statehouse on Monday were accused of undermining the rest of the conference by nearly granting the Republican majority a quorum to conduct business. If just five more lawmakers were present at the statehouse, Republicans would have been able to advance a controversial election security bill that Democrats sought to block by leaving the state.

"You all threw us under the bus today!" Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos (D) declared on social media. "Why?"

⁦@jamestalarico⁩ ⁦@RepMaryGonzalez⁩ ⁦@moodyforelpaso⁩ you all threw us under the bus today! Why? https://t.co/yD6ODZKFcP

— Representative Ana-Maria Ramos (@Ramos4Texas) 1628546901.0

The four Democrats who returned to Texas are Reps. Joe Moody, James Talarico, Mary González, and Art Fierro. Moody is one of the Democratic leaders and the former speaker pro tem, a title that House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) had stripped from him last month as a disciplinary measure for breaking quorum.

In a follow-up tweet, Ramos called out three of those Democrats, accusing them of selling out the rest of the conference.

"Today @jamestalarico was one of those Texas Dems who showed up at the Capitol to help Republicans pass anti-voter bills," Ramos said. "@jamestalarico was in DC 2 days ago with Dems and showed up in Austin with Republicans & @moodyforelpaso @RepMaryGonzalez to sell us out."

@briantylercohen Today @jamestalarico was one of those Texas Dems who showed up at the Capitol to help Republicans… https://t.co/iQXxTuQkys

— Representative Ana-Maria Ramos (@Ramos4Texas) 1628547533.0

On Monday, Talarico announced he had returned to Texas to "clean up [Gov.] Greg Abbott's latest messes" and said he was confident the Democrats' decision to go AWOL "shined a national spotlight on the TX voter suppression bill and pushed Congress closer to passing a federal voting rights act to override it."

I’m home!Our quorum break shined a national spotlight on the TX voter suppression bill and pushed Congress closer… https://t.co/gfGVyn7gEW

— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) 1628542787.0

Hours before lawmakers met at the statehouse, a district judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's administration from following through on a promise to arrest any Democrats who returned to the state and drag them to the Capitol to make quorum so the legislature could open for business.

Some of the irate Democrats remaining in Washington, D.C., made note of this, criticizing the members of their "team" who went to the statehouse voluntarily even after a judge said they couldn't be forced to show up for work and make quorum.

"I've said this before… it's a Team Sport… now we see who plays what positions on the Team… The fact that some of us secured a Temporary Restraining Order to protect ALL of us, yet some are trying to please the Governor and His OPPRESSIVE Agenda?! JUST WOW! #txlege," Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) tweeted.

I’ve said this before… it’s a Team Sport… now we see who plays what positions on the Team… The fact that some of us… https://t.co/8BMUZY5Fe6

— Rep. Jasmine Crockett (@jasminefor100) 1628545785.0

"We have a vote this week in the US Senate on voting rights. They could at least wait until the vote. There's nothing so pressing ar [sic] this moment to show up. Not to mention the restraining order allows you to be working in your district instead of on the floor against your district," Crockett said.

@AHomayouniVA We have a vote this week in the US Senate on voting rights. They could at least wait until the vote.… https://t.co/Ptom0f2mIA

— Rep. Jasmine Crockett (@jasminefor100) 1628548332.0

Democratic lawmaker says 'modern science' recognizes six sexes — not two



An Ivy League-educated Democratic lawmaker in Texas claimed recently that "modern science" recognizes many more than just two biological sexes.

"In fact, there are six," said Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a former English teacher who holds a master's degree in education policy from Harvard University.

Talarico made the stunning remarks during a committee hearing on Texas House Bill 4042, a measure which aims to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' K-12 sports, the Washington Times reported.

Before the public testimony at the hearing, Talarico reportedly attempted to correct the bill's sponsor, Republican state Rep. Cole Hefner, on the number of biological sexes assumed in the legislation's text.

"The bill seems to think there are two," he said. "The one thing I want us to all be aware of recognize is that modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes. In fact, there are six, which honestly, Rep. Hefner, surprised me, too."

He then reportedly went on to educate his fellow committee members on the "six really common biological sexes," explaining there are not only XX (female) and XY (male), but also single X, XXY, XYY, and XXXY.

"The point is that biologically speaking, scientifically speaking, sex is a spectrum, and oftentimes can be very ambiguous," Talarico said, according to the Times.

If it wasn't recorded, you wouldn't believe us.Texas representative @jamestalarico yesterday, "Modern science obvi… https://t.co/SDJVVlh2JX
— Save Women's Sports (@Save Women's Sports)1619064638.0

Later in the hearing, Save Women's Sports President Beth Stelzer, who was present to testify in defense of the bill, passionately rebutted Talarico's claims.

She reportedly cited several scientific studies proving that "the male advantage is immutable and that there are in fact two sexes they're dimorphic, XX/XY.

"The other quote 'sexes' mentioned are disorders of sexual development that are variants of XX or XY chromosome," she said. "They are still disorders of male or female."

"If it wasn't recorded, you wouldn't believe us," wrote the nonprofit organization in a Twitter post that included video of the exchange. Save Women's Sports was founded to protect women's sports from unfair male participation.

Amazingly, during his remarks, Talarico even acknowledged that he is "not well versed in this issue area," joking, "I'm not a scientist, I'm a politician, [which is] a lot worse than a scientist."

The National Institutes of Health reports that "sex chromosome variations" are "not inherited and occur due to a random error during the formation of reproductive cells (eggs and sperm) in a parent."

Such variations often result in significant health and physical abnormalities, the public health agency added.

"The most common numeric sex chromosome variations include Turner syndrome (45, X); 47, XXY (which usually causes features of Klinefelter syndrome); 47, XYY; and 47, XXX (trisomy X)," according to NIH. "In some cases, individuals have some cells with the usual 2 sex chromosomes, and some cells with extra or missing sex chromosomes; this is called chromosomal mosaicism."