AUSTIN – The Texas House Republican Caucus (THRC) today called on the 48 House Democrats who have yet to return the taxpayer money they collected while on vacation in Washington D.C. and abroad. Each member of the Texas House of Representatives receives a per diem of $221 or $6,630 per month, and these members have yet to reimburse the Texas taxpayers.
“Texans do not pay taxes so their representatives can take sight-seeing tours in Washington or gallivant across Europe,” said THRC Chairman, Jim Murphy (R-Houston). “They pay taxes to have representation in Austin on issues that matter like foster care grants, retired teacher funding and bail reform. It is past time for these 48 Democrats to return the money they took from taxpayers while avoiding their jobs. If they wish to be paid to vacation, I suggest they find new work as Instagram influencers.”
The failure of these Democrats to show up over the course of the first special session and a portion of the second special session has cost the taxpayers nearly three-quarters of $1 million and is increasing daily.
According to the House Business Office, the list of vacationing Democrats who have yet to return their taxpayer funded per diem as of August 20, 2021 includes:
Rep. Ana Hernandez, HD-14
Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos, HD-102
Rep. Ann Johnson, HD-134
Rep. Armando Walle, HD-140
Rep. Art Fierro, HD-79
Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, HD-120
Rep. Carl Sherman, HD-109
Rep. Celia Israel, HD-50
Rep. Chris Turner, HD-101
Rep. Christina Morales, HD-145
Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez, HD-76
Rep. Diego Bernal, HD-123
Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, HD-51
Rep. Elizabeth Campos, HD-19
Rep. Erin Zwiener, HD-45
Rep. Gene Wu, HD-137
Rep. Gina Hinojosa, HD-49
Rep. Hubert Vo, HD-149
Rep. Ina Minjarez, HD-124
Rep. James Talarico, HD-52
Rep. Jarvis D. Johnson, HD-139
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, HD-100
Rep. Jessica González, HD-104
Rep. Joe Deshotel, HD-22
Rep. Joe Moody, HD-78
Rep. John Bucy, HD-136
Rep. Julie Johnson, HD-115
Rep. Mary Ann Perez, HD-144
Rep. Mary González, HD-75
Rep. Michelle Beckley, HD-65
Rep. Nicole Collier, HD-95
Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, HD-148
Rep. Philip Cortez, HD-117
Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., HD-90
Rep. Ray Lopez, HD-125
Rep. Rhetta Andrews Bowers, HD-113
Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, HD-42
Rep. Ron Reynolds, HD-27
Rep. Senfronia Thompson, HD-141
Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr., HD-36
Rep. Shawn Thierry, HD-146
Rep. Sheryl Cole, HD-46
Rep. Terry Meza, HD-105
Rep. Toni Rose, HD-110
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, HD-116
Rep. Victoria Neave, HD-107
Rep. Vikki Goodwin, HD-47
Rep. Yvonne Davis, HD-111