State Representative Bryan Slaton (R) wants the people of Texas to have the opportunity to return to "Lone Star" status. He has introduced the Texas Independence Referendum Act, or TEXIT, which would allow Texans to vote on whether the state "should reassert its status as an independent nation" during the next general election.
"After decades of continuous abuse of our rights and liberties by the federal government, it is time to let the people of Texas make their voices heard," Rep. Slaton contends, also noting that the Texas Constitution is clear that all political power resides with the people.
Cathie Adams, a former chairwoman of the Republican Party of Texas, finds it "really interesting" that he would think secession is "an appropriate thing to do."
"He is hearing a lot from his constituents," she reasons. "They are seeing the chaos going on in the big cities, they're seeing the fact that our borders are open, [and] they know that something has got to happen."
She also notes that without the rule of law, chaos has ensued.
"Look what happened with this January 6th committee," Adams says. "We have people who were not insurrectionists, and yet they have been in jail without even due process for 26 months. And yet we have people who were burning down buildings in Portland, Oregon, and they're living free. I don't know what it is going to take for Americans to wake up, but Texans, I think, are looking at all of the options."
Texas' nickname pays tribute to the Lone Star flag, which was adopted after Texas became independent from Mexico in 1836. Texas was an independent republic for ten years before accepting annexation to the United States.
Rep. Slaton said he was "proud" to be filing the bill on the 187th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo, and the measure is supported by the Texas National Movement, an organization of about 440,000 pushing for the state's independence. But it has also been condemned by state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
