So Ashley, how long has the Texas State House been without a quorum now?

Well, technically since the beginning of June, but it's been several weeks now that the

House has been unable to do practically anything.

Ashley Lopez is a reporter for KUT, the public radio station in Austin, Texas.

It covers state politics.

It's really messy.

I mean, I don't think I've ever seen state governance so chaotic here.

And it's not like Texas has always been such a flower, just like not doing anything.

Texas politics has always been kind of nuts.

But I don't think I've ever seen it like this.

For a couple months now, Democratic lawmakers in Texas have been locked in a battle with

the states or Republicans.

That issue are proposed restrictions on voting.

In July, the battle intensified when a bunch of state house Democrats skipped town denying

their chamber a quorum.

That made it impossible for the rest of the state house to even consider legislation.

The Texas Democrats chose, as their exile, the home of good governance and political compromise

Washington, DC.

They were there to hide out.

They were also there to lobby Congress to pass federal voting protections.

Today, more than 50 Democratic members of the Texas House left Austin and left Texas.

Now because we want to, it breaks our heart that we have to do it.

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