>> Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, is ordering the arrest of his Democratic state.

Lawmakers.

The move comes after Democratic members of the Texas House fled the state arriving here in Illinois and New York in an attempt to block a vote on a new congressional map.

That map would expand the number of Republican leaning congressional seats by 5.

Here's what some Texas lawmakers had to say.

>> Gerrymandering is a problem in a lot of states, not just red states, states, blue Democrats and Republicans.

Both gerrymander.

Now this power grab in Texas is a different level.

It is more brazen.

It is more egregious is more discriminatory and it's happening in the middle of the decade because the president of the United States directly requested 5 more seats that he doesn't have to face accountability in the midterm elections, which incredibly dangerous.

If we expect that people can hold their elected officials accountable, they're not mad that states are redistricting for partisan purposes.

They're mad that a Republican state is doing the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the great state of Texas.

Absolutely allows us.

>> To undergo this type of redistricting We're doing something that's completely legal.

It's completely constitutional.

And I'm doing everything I can in my power as an elected member of the state of Texas to make sure that the state of Texas does everything in its power to make sure the Republicans hold on to a majority in the United States.

Congress.

>> So joining us now, our Illinois House Republican leader Tony Macomb, be and Harold Krantz, professor of law at Chicago Kent College of Law.

We should mention we did invite many Democratic members of the Illinois state Legislature to join us, but they either declined or did not immediately return our messages.

We think a Colombian professor credit for joining us.

Mesereau, I want to start with you.

Please explain how we got to this point.

>> Well, people to say that they're not going to interfere with political redistricting in any of the states.

So rest, state, blue state, it doesn't matter.

You can politically gerrymandered to your heart's content.

It doesn't do well for a unified country.

Only.

Basically intensifies partisanship.

But that's what Texas is starting Illinois threatening to fight back as his New Jersey and California.

So have to race to the gerrymandered districts.

I don't think this can mean anybody's best interest, but the president has sparked it we're going to see where it leads to.

>> Yeah, we're going to come back to that conversation about some blue states attempting to redistrict in in so-called retaliation.

Professor, is this though it is this unusual move to redistrict in the middle of the decade so far out from the most recent census?

>> I mean, it's it's somewhat unusual, but there's been periods in past.

And indeed, this isn't the first walkout Texas legislatures, Democrats periodically have fled to neighboring states to try to avoid some kind of showdown.

Most recently in 2021. are voting rights changes.

So this kind of politics at this kind granular level doesn't rise as does redistricting.

And, you know, I just think this is not going to good for the country.

>> going to be what do you make of the Texas Democrats move?

>> Well, first gerrymandering, if he's right, it is ridiculous.

What is being done all around our nation and Illinois doesn't have to threaten anything because we are already completely redistrict.

As you're aware.

We have a 78 40 majority in the House and we should buy fair mapping.

We should have 11 more seats which still puts us in the minority, but certainly shouldn't be this vast, you know, with not having a balanced government, it's a bad government for Republicans and Democrats.

I get their plight there.

And in Texas, you know, being outvoted and outnumbered.

It's not easy, but you have to stay and you have to fight.

You can't.

And it wasn't just about that vote.

this particular session was also about the flood victim.

So it's unfortunate that they've decided to change our definition of a sanctuary state.

>> A leader and, you know, sort of to the point about, you know, gerrymandering, what do you think?

What do you make of the state of Texas deciding to redistrict and draw new maps in the year 2025?

Versus the way most states have done it.

And obviously as professor Krentz said they can do this.

But what do you make of it?

>> Yeah, was you're aware the we did file a lawsuit to actually try to do it here.

We lost on the fact of gerrymandering.

So I understand if there's a situation where we were the opposite, we had a study done and we've we've found that there was 52 gerrymander districts.

Illinois has one of the most gerrymandered district.

Our state's time with nationwide.

I think, congresswoman.

But guy has the most gerrymandered congressional seat in in the nation.

So it's it's not healthy to have this happen in any state.

Like I said, we have to have balance government to have good government.

>> Professor Texas, Governor Greg Abbott.

As we mentioned, he has ordered the arrest of those Democratic state lawmakers.

He's threatening to remove them from office.

Does he have authority?

>> Give me the answer of that.

You know, both sides of question.

First of all, is we have our jurisdiction of the law enforcement only extends to the boundary of the state.

And so the state have no authority.

Law enforcement across the border lines.

So if they sent law enforcement into Illinois, they be rogue state.

The outlaws subject to Illinois law.

So there's been a some come semblance of these We're ups from time to time in our history.

And I think it's pretty clear that there's no kind of crossing state lines in terms of actually arresting these individuals who are in Illinois.

Now, second, does he have legal authority?

He says that these individuals have abandoned there positions and so that he can call for new elections and appoint interim because of their abandoned.

But that's not what means.

Even intend to return.

They haven't.

We announced they were built interest in becoming a legislator, in fact, are doing this because of their interest being legislators.

In addition, under Texas law pretty unclear that the government has the power even to appoint replacements.

Well, you can do is order special elections.

So for both those reasons can't appoint his successor, haven't abandoned and you can't arrest them.

This is a still many still has come to continue at least for weeks.

However, how long it's going to last is anybody's guess.

The there is a fine $500 per day for the Legislature's that they're facing.

That can be pretty steep after a couple of weeks.

So maybe a couple of them will go back.

And as we've seen in the past and this divisive gerrymander will continue.

>> Leader McConnell be Governor Pritzker has said at a news conference in DuPage County, he said, quote, Let's be clear, this is not just rigging the system in Texas.

It is about rigging the system against the rights of all Americans for years to come.

What are your thoughts on what Governor Pritzker and saying because he at the same time has given refuge to to the Texas lawmakers who are here.

>> Yeah, certainly he did roll out the red carpet.

You know, I strongly disagree with the governor on this issue.

He ran his first election stating that he would never sign a partisan map that was drawn by or a map drawn by legislators.

And he did he went against is his own campaign promise and he did sign it.

And have that.

That's unfortunate.

I think for him to be getting involved with this is certainly.

Really is it?

He's a hypocrite for being a part of this because Texas and other states are responding to the actions that are done in states like ours.

This is just result of that.

In my opinion, I think, you know, you're talking about democracy and they do believe that their house than the house Texas, your voice is your vote.

And so if you're not voting, where that's where your voices.

So it's the governor said that and you got to be there to vote.

Professor at the Texas House.

They failed to meet a quorum today.

Of course, they adjourned until tomorrow.

>> But what is the timeline hearing?

they have to go home at some point.

Could still pass when they get back could it?

>> Well, actually could pass.

But the question is there, how long as they can?

The has to be done the enough time before the midterm election to to make a difference.

And, you know, I think that, you know, the governor here is saying, look, if you this is really kind of outrageous that this kind of redistricting is happening because the president wants you to do it so close to the midterms.

And so to give refuge for these legislatures to says make sense of trying to hold the fort and not have California.

Jersey is blue states try to match what the Red State Texas has done.

Leader McConnell your by the way.

Well, what we've got Houston.

left yet.

Okay.

We've got 40 seconds.

I want to get to leader McConnell briefly because we brought this up a couple of times.

>> The prospect of blue controlled states or democratically controlled states.

Also redistricting in retaliation lead or what's your reaction to that?

>> I don't think anybody should be gerrymandering, Republican or Democrat.

I think it and the professor and I agree beforehand.

We talked about an independent commission.

That is how it should be done.

Legislator should not be picking their voters.

Voter should be picking us.

Totally agree.

>> Okay, that you know what?

I'm gonna leave it there