Texas Senate: Senator Perry Explains Alvarado's Filibuster Block

Filibuster Disruption and Campaign Fundraising

• 🏛️ Senator Charles Perry explains that Senator Carol Alvarado's planned filibuster of the redistricting bill was halted after a dinner break.
• 📧 The reason for the halt was Alvarado issuing a campaign email to promote her filibuster as a campaign fundraising event.
• ⚠️ Perry states this is unprecedented in the Texas Senate and is considered highly offensive, violating traditions, ethics, and decorum.

Use of State Resources for Campaigning

• 💰 Perry argues that using state employees and resources for campaign fundraising is potentially unlawful and unethical.
• 🏢 The Texas Capital building, Senate facilities, lighting, security, electricity, and information systems were allegedly used to support Alvarado's campaign.
• 👥 This action is described as holding the entire Senate and its employees hostage to assist in her campaign.

Senator Alvarado's Response and Motion

• 📢 Alvarado's campaign email is quoted, framing the filibuster as a fight against "Trump's rigged maps" and a defense of democracy.
• 💰 The email includes a call for donations to "join me in this fight."
• 📜 Following the email, Alvarado moved the previous question on the final passage of HB4, effectively attempting to end debate.

Parliamentary Inquiry and Vote

• ❓ A parliamentary inquiry was raised questioning the precedent for Perry's actions and the President's role.
• 🗣️ The President ruled that the inquiry was not a proper parliamentary inquiry regarding the motion to move the previous question.
• ✅ The motion to move the previous question was adopted with 18 yeas and 8 nays.