US Home Democrat Holds Thirst Strike to Protest Texas Water Break Legislation

By Moira Warburton and Josephine Walker

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic U.S. Consultant Greg Casar of Texas held a thirst strike at Congress on Tuesday to protest a brand new regulation signed by Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott blocking native ordinances that mandate water breaks for staff.

Casar, whose district contains elements of Austin and San Antonio, Texas, mentioned wouldn’t drink water for eight hours whereas standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol constructing, as temperatures in Washington rise to virtually 90 levels Fahrenheit (32°C).

A day earlier, over 100 Democrats signed a letter to President Joe Biden’s administration, asking for federal office warmth security laws.

“It is difficult and it is scorching, however it’s not as scorching as it’s in Texas,” mentioned Casar, who was sweating within the sweltering humidity. Temperatures in Casar’s district had been anticipated to high 100°F (38°C) on Tuesday.

High Home Democrat Hakeem Jeffries referred to as Abbott’s invoice “unreasonable, unconscionable and un-American.”

Abbott’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The laws blocks cities from writing native guidelines that go additional than state legal guidelines, an try by Texas Republicans to restrict the power of native Democratic lawmakers to enact their insurance policies.

The cities of Houston and Austin have sued the Texas authorities over the invoice set to take impact in September.

Jasmine Granillo, whose household efficiently pressured the town of Dallas to implement obligatory water breaks in 2015 after her brother died of warmth stroke whereas working a residential development job, mentioned Abbott’s invoice “is chipping away what my household has fought for.”

(Reporting by Moira Warburton and Josephine Walker; Modifying by Scott Malone and Invoice Berkrot)

Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.