Chicken D's - DAY 2 - Quorum Breaking Texas House Democrats (Combined Thread)

13 May 2003

[Stultis]

A place to discuss the Texas Rats' latest "pissin' on the rule of law" tantrum, link relevant FR threads, or post articles that might not quite warrant an independent thread.

Here's some recent news.google offerings, which may or may not be posted on FR yet:

Rebel Democrats want redistricting dropped
United Press International - 35 minutes ago
ARDMORE, Okla., May 13 (UPI) -- Rebel Democrats refused Tuesday to return to the Texas House unless Republican leaders drop a congressional redistricting bill backed by US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
While others fled, these 4 Democrats stayed behind Austin American Statesman
Over 50 Texas Democrats Remain on the Lam ABC News
FOX News - San Jose Mercury News - CNN - San Antonio Express

Post-walkout ramifications
News 8 Austin, TX - 3 hours ago
Tuesday’s walkout of 53 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives
may not only impact legislation during this session, but could also affect ...

Miller offers 17th District map revision
Stephenville Empire Tribune, TX - 4 hours ago
By MIKE COGGINS. While Democrats were boycotting the Texas House
of Representatives on Monday, state Representative Sid Miller (R ...

'Dirty D's' head north of Red River
Paris News, TX - 4 hours ago
State Rep. Mark Homer, D-Paris, was among more than 50 Texas Democrats,
dubbed the “Dirty Ds,” found late Monday in Oklahoma ...

Deshotel gone, Hamilton stays and gets locked inside
Orange Leader, TX - 6 hours ago
State Rep. Mike Hamiliton was locked in a room Monday, guarded by Texas
Rangers and eating cold sandwiches for lunch. The Republican ...

House Demos go AWOL in war over budget, redistricting
El Paso Times, TX - 14 hours ago
With Republicans holding 19 of the 31 Senate seats and 88 of the 150 House
seats, some Texans think Democrats are an endangered species, anyway. ...

Eiland: Redistricting plan has to go
Galveston County Daily News, TX - 16 hours ago
State Rep. Craig Eiland, a Galveston Democrat, was in another state
Monday night and vowed not to return to the Texas Capitol until ...

Democrats Walk Out On Texas House Legislative Session
KCBD-TV, TX - 21 hours ago
On Monday nearly 60 House Democrats refused to show up for the Legislative
Session. The Democratic walk out delayed debate on a ...

Battle lines form over redistricting
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - May 11, 2003
By Jay Root and Maria Recio. Republicans say they just want representatives
in Congress who reflect the changed political landscape in Texas. ...

While others fled, these 4 Democrats stayed behind
Austin American Statesman, TX - 29 minutes ago
Rep. Chente Quintinalla is handed a "wanted" flier at the Holiday Inn in Ardmore,
Okla. on Tuesday. The flier said "WANTED for representing the people." Photos. ...

Rebel Democrats want redistricting dropped
United Press International - 47 minutes ago
ARDMORE, Okla., May 13 (UPI) -- Rebel Democrats refused Tuesday to return to the
Texas House unless Republican leaders drop a congressional redistricting bill ...

Democrats flee Texas, freeze legislature
San Jose Mercury News, CA - 2 hours ago
By APRIL CASTRO. AUSTIN, Texas - Rebellious Democrats who fled the state
Capitol spent a second day in Oklahoma on Tuesday and criticized ...

Over 50 Texas Democrats Remain on the Lam
ABC News - 3 hours ago
Three Democrats returned to the Capitol on Tuesday, but more than 50 remained on
the lam in Oklahoma, frustrating Republican efforts to push through a plan to ...

Texas Trooper Arrests Absent House Democrat
FOX News - 5 hours ago
AUSTIN — A state trooper has arrested a missing Texas House Democrat
and returned her to the Capitol. News Eight Austin reports ...

Missing Democrats stall House for 2nd day
Austin American Statesman, TX - 5 hours ago
The House of Representatives convened at 9 am Tuesday, but for the second day could
not conduct business because more than 50 Democrats remained in Oklahoma to ...

Far too far
Working for Change, CA - 6 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas -- They just went too far, that's all. This session
of the legislature has been as brutal, callous and indifferent ...

Democrat politicians flee Texas in row with Republicans
Ananova, UK - 7 hours ago
Democrat politicians in Texas have gone into hiding in neighbouring Oklahoma
to try and outfox rival Republicans. The ruling Republican ...

DEMOCRATS GONE BY SUNRISE
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - 11 hours ago
Austin, Texas -- Moving with exceptional stealth and tactical coordination, more
than 50 Democratic state lawmakers in Texas packed their bags and quietly ...

Troopers Sent To Find Texas Dems In Okla.
Guardian, UK - 11 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - State troopers found Democratic lawmakers in Oklahoma after
they brought the Texas House to a standstill by going into hiding, but the ...

Texas police seek arrest of absent lawmakers
Boston Globe, MA - 12 hours ago
By Connie Mabin, Associated Press, 5/13/2003. USTIN, Texas -- Troopers
and the elite Texas Rangers were ordered to track down and ...

'Amber Alert' issued -- for on-the-run Texas lawmakers
CNN - 13 hours ago
State Rep. Martha Wong, R-Houston, bows her head during the invocation, surrounded
by empty desks on the House floor of the Capitol in Austin on Monday. ...

Troopers on lawmakers' trail; lawyers on hunt for warrants
Austin American Statesman, TX - 16 hours ago
Reps. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, top, and Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, make calls from
the Capitol on Monday as a Democratic boycott stopped business in the House. ...

Texas Democrats skip town for Oklahoma amid tension with GOP-led ...
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - 17 hours ago
Democrats angry with the new Republican leadership of the Texas House brought the
chamber to a standstill Monday by skipping town and heading across the state ...

Some rebel Texas lawmakers
Houston Chronicle, TX - 17 hours ago
By RG RATCLIFFE and POLLY ROSS HUGHES. AUSTIN -- A group of Democratic
lawmakers who threw the Legislature into turmoil when they ...

At least 35 lawmakers in Oklahoma
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - 18 hours ago
By PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News. AUSTIN – They're the Filthy
Fifty, the Fire Ants, or, collectively, Waldo – as in the ...

Boo Hoo Flu drives out Democrats
Austin American Statesman, TX - 18 hours ago
Let's see. In 1979, when 12 unhappy state senators boycotted work at
the Capitol and hid out in a West Austin garage apartment, they ...

Democrats disappear from House
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - 19 hours ago
AUSTIN – State troopers mounted a multistate search Monday for 53 Democratic
state representatives, who stole away in the last day or so to undisclosed ...

Police Hunt Hiding Texas Democratic Legislators
Reuters, UK - 22 hours ago
By Jim Forsyth. AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - State police were sent out
on Monday to arrest 59 Texas Democratic state representatives ...

What they're saying about Democrats' walkout
Houston Chronicle, TX - May 12, 2003
"We did not choose our path, Tom DeLay did. We are ready to stand on
the House floor and work day and night to deal with real issues ...

Angry Democrats boycott Texas House
United Press International - May 12, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas, May 12 (UPI) -- Fifty-two angry Democrats refused to show up Monday
in the Texas House, stalling action on a congressional redistricting bill ...

Texas Democrats stage legislative rebellion
USA Today - May 12, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democrats angry with the new Republican leadership of the
Texas House brought the chamber to a standstill by failing to show up Monday. ...

House walkout reverberates in Washington
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - May 12, 2003
WASHINGTON - A walkout by state House Democrats on Monday will backfire as important
pending legislation begins dying, according to an aide to US House ...

Democrats in GOP-dominated Texas House stage mass absence to ...
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - May 12, 2003
Almost all of the Democratic members of the state House failed to show up Monday
morning, preventing the GOP-dominated body from convening because of a lack of ...

Walkout by Democrats halts work at Texas House
Houston Chronicle, TX - May 12, 2003
AUSTIN - Less than 30 minutes before the Texas House was due to convene today ,
the letters of 52 Democrats -- enough to break the quorum needed to business ...

House Democrats break quorum
Austin American Statesman, TX - May 12, 2003
By Ken Herman. The Texas House ground to a halt Monday as 53 Democratic
members, scheming to block a planned vote on a congressional ...

Report: Texas House Democrats plan to break quorum
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - May 12, 2003
AUSTIN - Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick alerted the Texas Department of Public
Safety on Monday that a group of Democratic state lawmakers may be absent ...

Snag stops reorganization bill
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - May 11, 2003
AUSTIN – A bill backed by House leaders to overhaul state government – and help
raise the additional money needed to fund their proposed new state budget ...

GOP would redraw districts in 2 states
Boston Globe, MA - May 11, 2003
By David Espo, Associated Press, 5/11/2003. ASHINGTON -- Over the vehement
protests of Democrats, Republicans are trying to use newly ...

NEW: 3 Demos who didn’t flee state are back in House; quorum ...
San Antonio Express, TX - 4 hours ago
By Peggy Fikac and Guillermo X. Garcia. AUSTIN — Three more Democrats
were in the Texas House today — one driven by a state trooper ...

Response to House Demos ’ tactic runs along party lines
Stephenville Empire Tribune, TX - 4 hours ago
By GENE DEASON. Reaction ran along party lines after Democratic Party
members of the Texas House of Representatives failed to take ...

The GOP's Re-Redistricting Scheme
NDOL.org - 6 hours ago
Angered by Republican steamroller tactics, Democratic members of the Texas House
of Representatives made headlines all over the country this week by literally ...

Fleeing Texas Democrats Found in Oklahoma Motel, Paper Says
Bloomberg - 8 hours ago
By Darrell Preston. Austin, Texas, May 13 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic lawmakers
who fled the Texas Capitol to block a vote on a redistricting ...

Missing lawmakers found . . .
News 9 San Antonio, TX - 8 hours ago
AUSTIN -- Missing House Democrats plan to hold a news conference today in Oklahoma
where they've been hiding out, stalling the legislative process back in Texas ...

Texas House roiled by truant Democrats
The Hill, DC - 10 hours ago
By Sam Dealey. The doors to the Texas House of Representatives in Austin
were locked Monday and law enforcement officers were dispatched ...

Texas Lawmakers Stalling Legislative Process
Channel4000.com, MN - 10 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas -- Members of the Texas House are due back to work Tuesday morning
but they might not have anything to do -- dozens of Democratic lawmakers who ...

Redistricting fight closes Texas Legislature
Oakland Tribune, CA - 10 hours ago
By Jay Root and Karen Brooks. AUSTIN, Texas -- A group of renegade
Democrats, furious over efforts to flush their fellow partisans ...

Demos run from House
Corpus Christi Caller Times, TX - 10 hours ago
By Ty Meighan and Monica Wolfson Scripps Howard Austin Bureau. AUSTIN
- Democrats angry with the new Republican leadership of the ...

Walkout at a glance
San Antonio Express, TX - 14 hours ago
More than 50 House Democrats fail to show up for work Monday, denying the 150-member
chamber a quorum and keeping it from conducting legislative business. ...

Texas Dems hide out to avoid vote
Rocky Mountain News, CO - 14 hours ago
By Staff And Wire Reports. More than 50 Texas Democrats - dubbed
the Killer D's by some after the 1970s-era Killer Bees who shut ...

Boycott by Killer D's stings Texas House
Baltimore Sun, MD - 14 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas - A group of renegade Democrats, furious over efforts to flush fellow
partisans from Congress, are on the run after staging a big boycott of the ...

4 El Paso-area legislators join House walkout
El Paso Times, TX - 14 hours ago
Two members of the Texas House of Representatives talked on the phone
Monday on the House floor surrounded by empty desks during session. ...

Walkout shuts down all business
San Antonio Express, TX - 16 hours ago
By Guillermo X. Garcia. AUSTIN — A statewide manhunt was ordered
Monday for 53 rebellious Democratic lawmakers who vanished Sunday ...

Hunt is on for Texas Democrats
Richmond Times Dispatch, VA - 16 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas - State troopers and the elite Texas Rangers were ordered to track
down and bring in 59 Democratic lawmakers who brought the Texas House to a ...

Texas House Democrats Break Quorum By No-Show
KXTS-TV, TX - May 12, 2003
53 House Democrats have kept the House Legislature from conducting any business
after sending a letter to the House Parliamentarian excusing themselves from ...

[Brad’s Gramma]

bttt

[Stultis]

Ping!

[Tax-chick]

Alfalfa Bill would have them deported at gunpoint! Brad Henry's such a schmuck.

But irrespective of this walkout, how do you Texas FReepers feel about the redistricting plan that's the catalyst? The Houston paper (yeah, I know ...) had nothing but bad to say about it.

[AZamericonnie]

I just heard John Gibson speaking with the chair of the caucus. In closing his remarks were...representing the proud state of Texas...from Ardmore Oklahoma. So hysterical.

[E=MC²]

I hope that this is time off WITHOUT pay for the demonrats, and they are paying their own hotel and feed-bag bills.

[Timesink]

Redistricting happens. There was a GOP legistlator on Fox last hour who's been there for over 30 years, and said he's been through FOUR redistrictings before and nobody has ever tried something like this.

It really is this simple: The RATS, for the first time in decades, are the minority party in the Texas House, and they can't handle it, so they're throwing tantrums now that WE'RE doing to them what they used to do to us.

They can all go to hell.

[NEPA]

One of the articles said they are only 3 short of a quorum. Since one was brought in today only 2 more are needed. Hopefully a couple more can be found.

Brit Hume was just on trying not to laugh.

Oh, and I love the playing cards.

[CyberAnt]

So ... the repub Gov sent the Texas Rangers to get the lawbreakers ...

But ... the DEMOCRAT Gov of OK, said the TX Rangers don't have any authority in OK.

When is the next election is TEXAS ...??

I say, if these people continue this scam, they will be out of office come next election. Instead of the dems losing about 9 seats - THEY WILL POSSIBLY BE LOSING 39 seats ...?? Has any of them thought about this ...??

[RS]

Swear to drop it, then lock them in ... screw them !

[Stultis]

DALLASITES: Greg Knapp (sp?) is all over this. Many guests. On your radio dial at 570 AM.

[dalebert]

I want redistricting in Texas.

[Stultis]

http://www.570klif.com/

Think they got a listen live link somewhere. Talking to whiney Dem Rep bitching about "Right Wing Agenda" right now.

[dalebert]

Whats he saying?

[El Gato]

From the UPI story:

Rebel Democrats refused Tuesday to return to the Texas House

Promises, promises. Are these like the promises of various and sundry HollyLibs to leave the country if Bush was elected, Saddam was attacked, or they had a bad hair day?... Most likely.

[dfwgator]

Democrats are such whiners aren't they?

[Dog Gone]

But irrespective of this walkout, how do you Texas FReepers feel about the redistricting plan that's the catalyst?

The current map is drawn to elect as few Republicans as possible. The Democrats won't admit that, but it's true.

I'm tired of casting my vote knowing that it doesn't matter. John Culberson's district votes 90% Republican. That's a safer seat than the "protected" ones like Sheila Jackson Lee gets.

Damn right we want redistricting. We've never had a chance to draw them in the past 130 years.

[Stultis]

Lon Burnham, Dem from Fort Worth. Greg is bringing him back for another segment. This guy is FAAAAAAAAR left. Used to be (may still be) Fort Worth President of "Peace Action".

He's been going on about how shutting down the legislature is the "only way" they could "do the business of the people of Texas". BARF!

Greg ain't letting him get away with nothing.

[Grut]

OK, a dumb question: is there anything in the Texas Constitution which would prevent the legislature from secretly decamping and showing up on the Dems' Oklahoma doorstep to resume business? For that matter, is there anything which would prevent the legislature from sending a functionary to Oklahoma to count the Dems as being 'present'?

[Stultis]

My recollection of the Constitution is vauge (it's a long, poorly organized, nearly everything but the kitchen sink in there, type of document) but I think there are specific references to Austin or the State Capital or somesuch as the place the Legislature shall meet.