Texas Democratic legislators left the state in order to break quorum during a special legislative session and prevent Republicans from passing new voting legislation. This is the special session that was supposed to pass the bill the legislature ran out of time on when Democrats broke quorum last time.
They took two chartered flights on Monday from Austin to Washington D.C. to “apply pressure to Democrats in the U.S. Senate” to pass federal voting legislation to trump moves by Texas and other states. Their breaking quorum is expected to slow down the legislative process in Texas, but not stop it.
On the way to the flights it appears they brought Miller Lite with them. There’s nothing illegal about the beer of course. As Texas legislators, no doubt their REAL ID-compliant drivers licenses prove they’re legal drinking age. But… Miller Lite?
A little pregame before that private jet pic.twitter.com/HWZ8SiuoU5
— Kevin Dalton (@NextLAMayor) July 12, 2021
And they violated the federal transportation mask mandate.
ON PLANE TO DC: Texas Democratic lawmakers are leaving state to break quorum to stop Republican voting bill. Veteran Capitol observers say this is unchartered territory. Photo from Democrat on the plane. https://t.co/YOuOMb0A2m pic.twitter.com/abWoARvFIC
— ScottGordonNBC5 (@ScottGordonNBC5) July 12, 2021
Federal transportation mask mandates apply to charter flights operated under 14 CFR Part 135, as well as to private jet terminals (FBOs). They do not apply to Part 91 aircraft operated for personal, non-commercial service.
Nearly three quarters of formal passenger incidents reported to the FAA this year have centered on masks. The FAA has proposed fines up to $10,000 per person. Does anyone want to take bets on whether the administration seeks fines against the passengers on this flight since not a single one appears to be wearing a mask?
Anti-maskers are keeping alcohol out of coach on Texas-based American Airlines which has been lobbying against the Texas bill. No wonder they flew private!
This would have been an amazing PR stunt, but flying maskless they give up part of the news cycle and undermine their messaging.
Once again, the Texas Dems show voters they would rather have photo ops than govern. Its no wonder they continue to be in the minority in TX senate and house.
This is a piece of utter crap information and it makes me want to.leave this group. You are turning into a Republican Fascist Allie. Are you going to start opposing vaccines as well as masks soon. You sicken me.
@Gary Leff
On another one of your postings that has created a 2 or 3 day back-and-forth battle between Liberal Antifa Leftists and Qanon-Loving Trumpers I made a joke that you should rename your blog “View from the Left Wing & the Right Wing”. I know…hilarious. And wrong. This post made me realize that you really are neither centrist nor a fair and balanced blogger. I thought that you were at first and ignored some of your haters, but no more. It sucks because I actually liked reading your stuff and even got a kick out of the more “controversial” elements. But your wording in this article and *especially* the use of the word “Democrat” instead of “Democratic” is too much even for me. So bon voyage and happy travels. I wish you well. There are million other travel bloggers out there. Seriously. There are way too many travel bloggers out there. Just sayin’…
Gary, your right-wing views are rapidly surpassing that actual content you’ve been providing lately. If we wanted to get news filtered through OAN or Newsmax, we could easily just visit those sites instead.
It’s not a local company, but Miller Lite is brewed in Ft Worth.
@Rude Bandit – you are ACTUALLY offended he called them “Democrats” and not “Democratics”?! Never mind the vast majority of people call them Democrats. BTW, you would really be offended that I call them snowflakes, libs, Dims, left wing social justice warriors and other apt terms.
BTW, this stunt didn’t derail the legislation since the governor and majority in the state legislature can amend the rules to ensure passage.
And I agree with Gary on the beer. I mean if you aren’t going to take one of the many good Texas craft beers at least take Shiner instead of mass produced swill like Miller Lite!
Hopefully Rude Bandit realizes that “antifa” doesn’t exist. There is a loose coalition of Anti-Fascists (and who opposes that?) but it’s not an organization. But then “Q” doesn’t exist either. (Quick question: If there was an all-powerful Deep State why didn’t it immediately kill this person?) Anyway, I’d gladly buy beers for any legislators who want to stop Jim Crow’s comeback.
For f#%@ sake Gary, can you stop with clickbait headlines like this “Democrat Lawmakers, With Beer And No Masks”
It was a PRIVATE PLANE…and you knew that. Your blog is devolving into Fox News of the travel world.
@Sean – The federal mask mandate applies to charter flights.
@Steve – It funny to call mine ‘right wing views’ for the last several years I’ve been getting bashed as “View From The Left Wing” and in any case I’ve written critically of these voting restriction efforts.
You call yourself the Thought Leader but that comes with some inherent obligations, like avoiding clickbait. This one was a miss on that front. Please return to your normal high quality material.
@Robert J Kasher So you are not offended by the actions of those Texas democrat lawmakers? But you are disappointed because Gary pointed it out?
Seriously how twisted are you? You sound like a brainwashed person.
What are the Demonrats trying to hide?
Rules for thee, but not for me…
No matter the party. Anyone that flies privately does not have to wear a mask and can drink what ever is catered. Please do not make more out of this for readership.
Miller Lite is considered a Texas beer so I’d assume that is part of the reason.
@William “Anyone that flies privately does not have to wear a mask” this is simply not correct. The mask mandate applies to part 135 charters. It also applies at private airports and FBOs. The only exception is part 91 non-commercial travel. The people in this photo were in violation of the federal mask requirement.
Bunch of fat chicks.
Sorry. I guess they were ‘actively drinking’. LOL
Who votes for these people? Who is paying for their chartered flights? Hold them accountable, Texas voters!
The term is “Democratic.” If you’re going to keep using the term “Democrat” as an adjective rather than a noun, then would you be so kind as to refer to the other side as the Republican’ts?
A shameful post from start to finish.
This flight operated under part 91 and thus no mask mandate.
@Omar – the new york times reports these were charters (not part 91)
Screw the haters Gary. Love your blog and your work. And I’m A brown man.
I’ll wait for the liberal folk to call me racist. Lol
Hmmm all the coverage is about fleeing the state to protest voting rights.
And you’re concerned that being maskless undermines the message?
Classic concern troll.
I enjoyed the article and I’m from the left – thanks Gary!
How come they can pass TSA security check with whole box of beers?
Or TSA didn’t even screen them??
@robert j kasher I am so terribly sorry for your pain.
“This is a piece of utter crap information and it makes me want to.leave this group.”
don’t let the door hit you. this blog has been around far longer than your snowflake comments.
Lousy optic for sure. No argument there. Masks are still required on private jets. However, I happen to know many people using private jets these days and none are wearing masks on board. Nor is anyone enforcing it. Still, they should know better in this age of leaked photos, and do/be better.
You will all please note the plane is ON THE GROUND – No one is “flying” anywhere … clearly a photo op…
Seems like a lot to expect folks (even lawmakers!) to know that charter flights are covered by the mask mandate, which is (a) probably not even necessary on commercial flights open to the general public, as this blog has explained; (b) downright nonsensical as applied to private charters; and (c) so obscure that even travel hobbyists like myself did not know until now and would not have expected.
They should wear masks. Can you imagine the levels of methane in that cabin.
Thank you Gary for showing the truth in reporting and not falling to the woke/angry mob in the few comments here. I appreciate your perspective and this article is part of the reason why I love this website.
Dems – Photo ops? Yes! Photo-ID? No!
Funny how all of a sudden voting laws are Jim Crow 2.0. Dems love power.
(sigh)
The point of Gary highlighting them not wearing masks, is that they are part of the party that currently has mandated that EVERYONE ELSE has to wear a mask while flying.
As for the substance of them fleeing Texas – It’s kind of pointless. They have to be back before September, at which point it will pass then. It’s just postponing the inevitable. Besides, I thought Democrats were against the filibuster and completely for majority rule?
Good job Gary, keep it up
To all those who will stop reading you for being offended by your blog, bye! Good riddance!
YESSSSSSSSSSSS QUEEN !!! and its Private G dog no mask required clueless one.
The gender-confused are kicking and sky screaming.
I enjoy watching a lib meltdown, keep ’em coming.
Gary, keep doing what you do! No side is 100% right, nor is one 100% wrong. Those “outraged” readers need to get a life and learn to understand the concept of irony. The hypocrisy goes both ways. Soon enough the Rs will become incensed – like when you posted the photo of Rubio with his mask down on an AA flight…oh the humanity!! 🙂
@BK93-I agree that the “woke/angry mob” seems to be infiltrating many of the travel blogs. In some cases, it appears to be the same person using different screen names. Whatever the case, it is unfortunately taking away the fun and utility of these various blogs.
Good for them. At least someone is fighting for Texan voting rights here in Texas when the Rs here only seem to want to steer us towards minority rule.
Isn’t this a travel blog? Oh I guess it involves an airplane so it allows for political bloviating under the veil of a travel blog. That’s actually nothing new though is it.
They have bigger things on their minds trying to save democracy from the nazis…..
Having lived in Texas for about half my life, this stunt pales in comparison to the bribery in San Antonio and the vote harvesting of the dead in South Texas that Democrats have been engaged in. Still, unlike in Tennessee, Texas Democrats have yet to put out a hit on a federal witness.
@AlohaDaveKennedy
I thought you were just a “Chump Fool” now you’re also “MyPillow Guy No. 2.”
As usual, like Pillow, you have no proof of anything you spout.
And I thought Pillow guy was “Chump Fool No. 1.”
Can we have this blog removed from Boarding Area already? It’s a bunch of OANN-lite now. Jesus, Gary – everyday we get a new politically charged post from you. Stick to the points & miles bruv.
If I left my job for two months because I didn’t agree with corporate strategy I’d be unemployed. And that’s exactly what should happen to these people. You were elected to represent the people in Austin — not to throw your temper tantrums and flee the state. As Truman once said — if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
Outstanding article, thanks Gary ! Marxists suck.
Gary,
I enjoy your blog posts. It’s funny, unlike the woke trolls, when I visit a site and don’t like what I’m reading, I just click on to the next site. Not sure why they hang around – they certainly are not going to change any minds.
Thanks for the story. Can’t wait for them to show up back in Austin eventually, Gov. Abbott is going to have them arrested.
@Ryan at least we finally get to the cancel culture wing.
Suck it up, snowflake. I have faith you’ll survive.
“Democrat” is a noun. Nouns do not modify other nouns.
“Democratic” is an adjective. Adjectives modify nouns.
I was taught this in sixth grade.
Examples:
Correct: I am a Democrat.
Correct: I vote for the Democratic party.
Incorrect: I am a Democrat legislator.