It was a chaotic end to the 140 day regular session of the Texas Legislature on Monday, and Gov. Abbott says lawmakers should not make any summer vacation plans quite yet, because they may be right back at their desks soon, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports
.It started when dozens of people opposed to the new law banning 'Sanctuary Cities' which has already been passed and signed by Gov. Abbott unfurled banners in the visitors gallery and started chanting slogans opposing SB 4, the anti Sanctuary City bill.
At that point, State Rep Matt Rilandi (R-Irving) told several members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus that he had 'just called ICE' about the protesters, including one demonstrator who wore a T-shirt reading 'I'm illegal and I'm here to stay.'
That fired up State Rep Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso)"He hates the people," Blanco said. "He wants to see them gone so much that he called ICE.' And that's not alleged, he said he called ICE."
Rinaldi said some lawmakers got his face and one threatened to kill him. Several Democrats said Renaldi threatened to 'put a bullet in the head' of anybody who threatened him.
"I don't remember what the back and forth was so I don't want to say it," Rinaldi told News Radio 1200 WOAI. "They said some stuff to me, I said stuff to them, and all of it was meant to incite each other."
The DPS had to be called to remove the protesters, pointing out that unfurling banners is forbidden in the galleries.
Abbott says he will make a decision 'this week' about whether to call lawmakers back into Special Session. A Special Session would most likely deal with the bill to limit transgender bathroom use, and a measure requiring a public vote before cities and counties can raise their budgets above a certain amount, both of which failed to pass in the waning hours.
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