joining me now is texas state representative philip cortez. of the state's democratic legislators. representative cortez, thank you so much. between the president's remarks, our pleasure, between the remarks and meeting with chuck schumer, do you feel the federal government, certainly this administration is taking what is happening in texas seriously enough? >> i want to thank president biden for the support and effort they have given not only to us but to other states kroos the nation are dealing with the same issue. so now we're here in d.c. to meet with that effort and meeting with lawmakers. and we're hoping that john lewis voting rights act and the for the people act can get out of neutral where it is stalled and get and be made into law. because we're living in barrowed time in the state of texas. we're here in d.c. for the remainder of the special s session. the governor can call us back immediately. the so we're living on borrowed time. we're determined to ensure that washington, d.c. does something to help us to ensure that texans and

the worn to apprehend philip cortez is the first one signed by the speaker since the democrats fled tont? >> cortez was in texas, meeting with the capital leadership team, they should have held him then that they put out the warrant after he left. laura: that is weak. >> we got to be firm on this issue, we cannot have anarchy at the state capitol. i don't know when they left but they had time to keep him right then and a few more democrats in the state they could bring them in. we got to put a end to this. government has to function. laura: if republicans in texas don't see the writing on the wall come on. i have to get this request from those were still in dc, they are asking the public for care packages, dr pepper, salsa, hard candy, hairspray, travel toiletries, first date and/or money to pay shipping. >> they are shameless, hanging up their underwear in a photo, griping about the food they are reading, they made this decision. more texans don't care about that. they will have hard-core democrats saying he's helping them as they are losing support day by day especially with independ

first texas house democrats who returned from washington, now the warrant to apprehend state rep philip cortez is the first one signed by the speaker since all those democrats fled to washington, some of them got covid. what do we make of this at this point with the democrats? >> i have to be honest with you he was in texas, he was in the capital, or meeting with a capital leadership, they should have held him then. why put out the warrant after h left? >> why did they do that? that's weak? >> i don't know, laura, but we've got to be firm on this issue. we cannot have anarchy at the state capital by democrats fleeing the capital. they had time to keep them, i don't know exactly when he left but they had time to keep them right then. and there are probably a few more democrats in the states they could send dps after. we have to put an end to this, laura. the government has to function had purred. >> the republican reps in texas don't see the writing on the wall here, come on. speaking of which i have to get this to the request from the fugitive from texas who are still in dc, apparently, dan, t

representative philip cortez being the latest democrat to return.austin on improving house bill 3 and asked that i return to establish open communication lines; however, that decision drew a surprise reaction from his colleagues suggesting a rift in the democratic caucus. >> that was the first i knew that he had left our group in washington. >> i was very surprised the person left in the cover of night, if you will. griff: across the aisle republicans just want to get back on the job. >> there are seven more members to go for the texas house of representatives to have a constitutional quorum so we can get back to work for the people. >> now this as oat least it six of the fleeing crew fighting covid in washington. one of them calling for universal masking. you see here donna howard not wearing a mask on that flight up to the nation's capitol tweeting a change of heart now. and it's worth pointing out, guys, while the texas' house's work has been stalled the g.o.p. controlled senate has been passing bills during governor abbott's special session. eno

representative philip cortez is one of them and he tweeted this.respect instead of my colleagues in washington, d.c. i stand by my convictions about full and open access to voting for all texans. i'm here to work on that." >> bill: that's 2 of 60, right? [laughs] we are counting. >> sandra: we'll see what they have to say. >> bill: 9 minutes passed now. tico very different views. fox news getting exclusive video on the mexican side of the border where thousands of illegals are reportedly waiting to cross just as the president touting progress at a town hall last night about the number of migrants in custody. he said that. >> we have enabled a move significantly to change the number. there were thousands of people in custody with the border patrol. it is now cut by 90%, considerably down. >> bill: that was last night. bill melugin with the take as he sees with his eyes and ears every day and w texas. bill, good morning. >> bill, good morning to you. the administration can claim progress all they want, it is certainly not reflected in border patrol's

philip cortez, a democrat, who represents san antonio is back in the texas capital this morning afterin good faith dialogue with republicans, adding we need to fight this battle on parallel tracks in texas and washington, d.c. his fellow democrats still in d.c. say cortez is not negotiating on their behalf and are urging him to come back. and still ahead, florida governor ron desantis adds his voice to the globe number of republicans all of a sudden pushing really hard for their constituents to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. plus, the fight over investigating the january 6th capitol insurrection heats up after house speaker nancy pelosi rejects two of minority leader kevin mccarthy's committee picks. "morning joe" is coming right back. back before nexium 24hr, anna could only imagine a comfortable night's sleep without frequent heartburn waking her up. now, that dream... . ...is her reality. nexium 24hr stops acid before it starts, for all-day, all-night protection. can you imagine 24 hours without heartburn? ♪ rock the boat don't rock the boat, baby ♪ ♪ rock the boat don't t

one of them, a fellow by the name of philip cortez, said on wednesday, i'm going to go back and i'm goingepublicans in austin to try to get something done. and then the other democrats in d.c. are going, wait a minute, he is not negotiating for us. is he not our emissary. who the heck you know, deputized him and said he could to. he took so much heat is he back in washington, d.c. i'm going to be working on it now back in d.c. so he went from austin to d.c. be back to austin. is he back in d.c. now. do you know what? he is hungry. he needs help, he needs a handout along with everybody else. rachel: this is amazing tweet by the democrats in texas. democracy in d.c. says they would appreciate care packages from home before 5:00 p.m. tuesday. collecting them this list is hilarious. dr. pepper, salsa, heart candy. hair spray, hand sanitizer. suing kits, first aid and/or money to pay for shipping. thank you. can't you get sowing kits from the front desk. brian: they are so upset, too. that the president will not meet with them. okay. so we are positive with covid-19. i will do a zoom call. is