This is just a bizarre story. Disgruntled Democrats didn't show up to work, as a way of obstructing government business in the Texas House of Representatives. Fox News reports that the absences of 58 of the 62 Democratic lawmakers meant that the House did not have enough members to hold a session.

The absence of the 58 Democrats denied the House its required 100-member quorum. The boycott capped months of tension between Democrats and the newly-in-control Republicans over a bill to limit lawsuits and a GOP budget that would make deep spending cuts without raising taxes.

State police were called, but no arrests have been made, yet. House rules allow for the arrest of any House members that intentionally try to thwart a quorum.

State police found many of the legislators hiding in a hotel in Oklahoma, and asked them to return to Austin.

[Republican House Speaker Tom] Craddick said he made a plane available to Democrats who choose to come back. The troopers have no legal authority to arrest them since they are outside Texas; the Democrats declined to return...

House Republicans spent hours of idle time locked in the chamber constructing signs and gimmicks ridiculing their Democratic colleagues. A pair of milk cartons circulated around the chamber, plastered with the faces of missing Democrats.

From the national level, on down to local levels, Democrats are quickly becoming the obstructionist party. If they don't win, they sue. When they lose lawsuits, they pout. When it comes time to do any business, they simply refuse to cooperate or do any work. Dems wouldn't give Judicial hearings, and still will not allow votes. Now, on the local level, they aren't showing up to work.

Does the House have any rules about "job abandonment"? In the private sector, when someone doesn't show up for work for three days, we terminate them and hire someone else.

UPDATES:
Kim DuToit asks: "I'm no lawyer, but isn't crossing state lines to avoid arrest a felony?"

Jack Cluth says: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going- to Oklahoma."

Owen Courreges asks: "Does it get more pathetic than this?"

James Taranto says: "'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,' FDR said in 1933. Hard to believe he belonged to the same party as these guys who deal with legislative adversity by making a beeline for the state line."