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Texas DPS Visits Representative Ordaz

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  Published in House and Home on Tuesday, August 19th 2025 at 19:04 GMT by El Paso Times
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Texas DPS Visits Representative Ordaz’s Family Home, Escalating Quorum Dispute Tensions

The ongoing battle over a state legislative quorum in Texas took a dramatic and concerning turn this week when Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers visited the home of State Representative Eva Muñoz Burnett, a Democrat representing El Paso. The visit, occurring while Burnett was away attempting to break the Republican-led walkout aimed at killing property tax relief legislation, has ignited accusations of intimidation and harassment, further escalating tensions surrounding the legislative process.

The situation began when House Republicans, seeking to pass significant cuts to property taxes without relying on Democratic votes, employed a procedural tactic that effectively shut down the House. A quorum – the minimum number of members needed to conduct business – was not present, preventing a vote on the bill. In response, dozens of Democrats left Austin, traveling across state lines in an effort to prevent a physical count and maintain their ability to participate in legislative proceedings.

This is where the DPS involvement enters the picture. According to Burnett and her family, officers arrived at their El Paso home early Wednesday morning, requesting to speak with her. While no one was detained or arrested, the presence of law enforcement at her residence while she was out of state has been widely interpreted as a deliberate attempt to pressure her and other absent Democrats into returning to Austin.

"This is an unacceptable escalation," Burnett stated in a press release. "My family felt intimidated by this show of force. It's clear that the Governor and House leadership are attempting to strong-arm us back to Austin, regardless of our concerns about the process being used to ram through legislation."

DPS has released a brief statement confirming officers visited Burnett’s residence but offered little explanation for their presence. The agency stated they were acting on information regarding the whereabouts of legislators who had left the state. This vague justification has only fueled speculation and criticism, with many accusing DPS of overstepping its authority and engaging in political harassment.

The incident echoes similar concerns raised earlier this year when DPS began tracking the movements of some Democratic lawmakers. At that time, DPS claimed they were investigating potential violations of House rules regarding attendance. However, critics argued that these actions were a thinly veiled attempt to pressure Democrats into returning to Austin and abandoning their efforts to block the property tax legislation.

The legal implications of DPS’s actions are complex. While there is no law preventing legislators from leaving the state, questions remain about whether the agency's presence at Burnett’s home constitutes harassment or an unlawful intrusion. Legal experts suggest potential challenges could be mounted based on constitutional grounds related to freedom of speech and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The Republican leadership in the House has defended DPS’s actions as necessary to ensure legislative business can proceed. Speaker Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, stated that the agency is simply fulfilling its duty to uphold the law and maintain order. He dismissed accusations of intimidation as “political theater.”

However, this incident highlights the increasingly polarized nature of Texas politics and the lengths to which both parties are willing to go to achieve their legislative goals. The property tax relief bill itself remains a contentious issue, with Democrats arguing that the proposed cuts disproportionately benefit wealthy homeowners while failing to address affordability concerns for lower-income families.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that some Democratic lawmakers have already returned to Austin, indicating a potential weakening of the quorum break. However, the incident at Burnett’s home has served as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved and the pressure being placed on those who remain absent.

Beyond the immediate legislative battle, this episode raises broader questions about the role of law enforcement in political disputes and the potential for abuse of power. Civil liberties groups have condemned DPS's actions, warning that they could chill free speech and discourage participation in democratic processes. The incident is likely to be a subject of ongoing legal challenges and investigations, and its long-term impact on Texas politics remains to be seen.

The events surrounding Representative Burnett’s home underscore the fragility of legislative procedure and the potential for political maneuvering to escalate into confrontations that threaten the integrity of the democratic process. As the standoff continues, the focus now shifts to whether DPS's actions will further galvanize opposition or ultimately compel absent lawmakers to return and allow the property tax relief bill to be debated – and potentially passed – under increasingly contentious circumstances.