Republican Texas State Representative, Kyle Biedermann, brought forth the “Texas Referendum Act” (House Bill 1359). This allows the Texas Legislature to vote on the creation of a joint interim committee to create a plan to potentially secede from the United States within the next five years.
Representative Biedermann released a statement about the bill, “This is not a resolution to allow for immediate independence. This legislation will give power directly to the people via referendum and allow Texans the right to discuss, debate and vote on creating a path toward Texas Independence. Regardless of an individual Legislator’s personal opinion on Texas Independence, we ask all Representatives and Senators to Let Texans Vote!”
He also said, “This Act simply Lets Texans Vote. This decision is too big to be monopolized solely by the power brokers in our Capitol. We need to let Texans’ voices be heard! Voters of all political persuasions in Texas can agree on one thing, Washington D.C. is and has been broken. Our federal government continuously fails our working families, seniors, taxpayers, veterans and small business owners. For decades, the promises of America and our individual liberties have been eroding. It is now time that the People of Texas are allowed the right to decide their own future. This is not a left or right political issue. Let Texans Vote!”
As of now, the petition (which can be found on Biedermann’s website) is listed as having 15,120 signatures. If there are enough signatures, the bill could be on the ballot come to Election Day.
Not all are too thrilled about the idea though.
Republican Texas, Representative Jeff Leach, said in a tweet, “It’s a disgrace to the Lone Star State. The very definition of seditious. A true embarrassment. And you should be ashamed of yourself for filing it.”