Perry tries to defend 1993 GOP walkout

"They need to find a better argument than that," Perry said, referring to the 10-year-old quorum bust in which 11 Republicans -- then the minority in Texas politics -- countered a racially tinged judicial redistricting resolution by going into a closed-door session at the same time the Senate was set to convene and vote on the measure.

Then-Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock announced that the Senate could not convene because no quorum was present. Only two of the 13 Republican senators were on the floor. The sound of buzzing emerged from the chamber, in a reference to the 1979 "Killer Bees" rebellion.

The walkout only lasted a day. To date, no such legislation has passed.