Representative Nicole Collier found herself in a political standoff in the Texas Capitol after refusing to sign a permission slip and accept a police escort. She was confined to the Capitol building for two nights, a situation she described as “house arrest.” During this time, she participated in a DNC call from a restroom, facing restrictions on her movement. Collier’s ordeal led to debates about whether it constituted “house arrest,” with legal opinions and the Texas Monthly writer Christopher Hooks, offering different perspectives, and Collier herself arguing that she was deprived of her rights.
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Texas Representative Nicole Collier filed a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that her confinement in the state Capitol by the Republican majority is unlawful. Collier, along with other Democrats, had previously left the state to block the enactment of new congressional maps. House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Republican, subsequently required Democratic legislators to sign a form agreeing to 24-hour police surveillance, which Collier refused to do. Collier’s lawsuit contends that the legislature lacks the power to detain a lawmaker based on concerns about future absences, thus making her confinement illegal.
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Texas State Representative Nicole Collier, a Democrat, refused to sign a “permission slip” for a mandatory police escort imposed by Republicans, remaining overnight in the Capitol as a result. This action was a form of protest against restrictions implemented by Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows, following the return of Democrats who had previously left the state to block a redistricting effort. Collier’s stance garnered support from fellow Democrats, who condemned the GOP’s actions as authoritarian and reminiscent of discriminatory practices. Several Democrats voiced their disapproval of the measures, with some characterizing the restrictions as an infringement on rights and an overreach of power.
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Texas Representative Nicole Collier of Fort Worth is still inside the House chamber. She has refused to sign a permission slip for a Texas DPS escort. This escort is required for all House Democrats who broke quorum to ensure their return to the House by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20th.
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John Q. Hosedrinker