Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrated a significant legal triumph as a court declared the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 as unconstitutional due to the lack of a physical quorum. Paxton successfully sought an injunction against the implementation of certain provisions of the law affecting Texas.
In response to the ruling, Attorney General Paxton criticized the actions of the House of Representatives, stating, “Congress acted egregiously by passing the largest spending bill in U.S. history with fewer than half the members of the House bothering to do their jobs, show up, and vote in person.” He also criticized the use of proxy voting by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, calling it an abuse that led to a violation of the Constitution. Paxton expressed relief that the Court upheld the Constitution in this case.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation, serving as co-counsel, also emphasized the significance of the court's decision. TPPF senior attorney Matt Miller praised the thoroughness of the opinion, stating, “The Court correctly concluded that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 violated the Quorum Clause of the U.S. Constitution because a majority of House members was not physically present when the $1.7 trillion spending bill was passed. Proxy voting is unconstitutional.”
The ruling marks a significant legal victory for Paxton and underscores the importance of upholding constitutional principles in legislative processes.