Texas Democrats again defied Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and the state GOP and did not show up Friday for a vote on a controversial redistricting plan proposed by Republicans. The GOP-proposed new congressional maps that would give Republicans more seats in Congress -- potentially allowing the GOP to keep control of the U.

These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold,” Paxton said in a statement.

Texas Republicans on Friday sought to increase the pressure on more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who left the state to prevent a vote on a new congressional map, announcing that absent state House members can only collect paychecks by appearing in person.