Beto O’Rourke, Willie Nelson aid Texas Dems in blocking GOP’s voting bill

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Texas Democratic legislators are receiving financial help from Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX.) and musician Willie Nelson as they went to Washington DC to halt the GOP’s election bill in Congress.
• The Texan lawmakers were reportedly staying in a hotel near the White House for one month.
• Republican leaders denounced the move, as some called the move as a PR stunt.

Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX.) and country music singer Willie Nelson are helping Texas Democratic legislators to secure financial assistance as they traveled to Washington DC in a bid to halt the GOP-led election bill. Democrat legislators in Texas are advocating for voting rights in the state.

O’Rourke reportedly assisted in raising over $525,000 to cover the expenses of the state lawmakers for their stay in the country’s capital, according to Dallas Morning News.

The news outlet also claimed that Nelson donated $5,000 while urging others to financially back the cause.

Per reports, the Democratic state legislators were staying at a nearby hotel from the White House. They were anticipated to be in DC for a month. They departed Texas on Monday as they planned to block the Republicans’ quorum plot which would ultimately setback the elections proposal.

Democrats claimed that the bill included stipulations that would pose more voting difficulties such as placing limits on early voting and curbside voting, as well as restricting round-the-clock voting centers and drop boxes.

Congressional Democrats and the White House have lauded the move, while Republican lawmakers called it a ‘public relations stunt.’ Meanwhile, Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) has warned that he would have the legislators arrested once they come back to Texas.

In another report by the Dallas Morning News, a few staffers from the Republican National Committee had recently staged a rally outside the hotel where the Texas Democratic legislators are currently staying.

In previous months, President Joe Biden called for restoration of the Voting Rights Act, and asked his colleagues in Congress to protect the people’s right to vote.

Source: The Hill