AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Republicans continue to ratchet up the rhetoric as they find new ways to punish the Democrats for not showing up at the Texas Capitol.

Once again, there was no quorum as the Texas House of Representatives gaveled in on Friday afternoon. Dozens of Democrats are still absent and out of state, having fled Texas to try to block the legislature from passing new GOP-friendly maps that could net the party as many as five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

A total of 55 Democrats are absent and scattered throughout parts of the U.S. The House gaveled in and out quickly on Friday afternoon. With the Democrats still not present, things in the lower chamber are still at a standstill.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) said state troopers will spend the weeken

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