00:00And with that, it is now my honor to pass it over to a true champion for democracy,
00:05who also happens to be the best governor in the nation, Governor J.B. Fritzker.
00:17Well, good morning, everyone.
00:19Good morning.
00:20I really am so pleased to welcome DNC Chair Ken Martin,
00:25and along with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congressman Al Green,
00:32all, of course, from the state of Texas.
00:35And we're here, of course, because Texas House Democrats are demonstrating what it means to fight for the preservation of our constitutional republic.
00:46Donald Trump, Governor Abbott, Texas Republicans,
00:50well, they know that they're headed toward a loss of the Congress in 2026.
00:56They're afraid, and they should be.
00:59Because when you try to tear health care away from veterans and seniors,
01:04from children and people with disabilities,
01:06when you raise tariff taxes on groceries and beer and automobiles,
01:12when you let poor and working-class families go hungry,
01:16when you allow smokestack industries to pollute the air and remove safety standards from food producers,
01:24well, all so that you can give a massive tax break to Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos and Bill Ackman,
01:32well, frankly, you'd better watch out.
01:35You're going to lose your elections.
01:37So they've decided that the only way to save themselves is to cheat,
01:44to change the rules in the middle of the game.
01:47And what do MAGA Republicans in Texas do when Donald Trump ignores, well, his oath of office and theirs,
01:56and when they're taking it upon themselves to thwart the will of the American people?
02:01Well, they say when Donald Trump calls, they say,
02:04yes, sir, right away, sir, happy to lick your boot, sir.
02:09When Donald Trump says jump, Greg Abbott and Ken Paxson say, how high?
02:14They don't care that they're violating the Voting Rights Act and racially gerrymandering their state.
02:20Well, they're hoping they can rob the bank and get away before anyone notices.
02:25Texas Republicans are trying to diminish the voting power of their own constituents,
02:29and in doing so, diminish the rights of Illinoisans and all Americans.
02:35Texas House Democrats are putting their lives on hold and their livelihoods at risk
02:41because they don't want to live in a country where the president rigs elections for his side.
02:48That's not democracy.
02:50That's not America.
02:52To be in public office right now is to constantly ask yourself,
02:56how do I make sure that we're standing on the right side of history?
03:00Well, there's a simple answer.
03:02The wrong side of history will always tell you to be afraid,
03:06and the right side of history will always expect you to be courageous.
03:11Texas House Democrats are leading the way in choosing courage and country over politics and party.
03:19That's what it means to fight for what's right.
03:23And I love this country, too.
03:25And I love it so much that I'm going to fight for it, too,
03:29right alongside my heroes, the Texas House Democrats.
03:33Yeah.
03:37So the state of Illinois is proud to stand side by side with these brave Texas Democrats,
03:43heroes in the battle to save our democracy.
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