Ratliff 'distraught' over redistricting, contemplates resignation

Fort Worth Star-Telegram ^ | August 19, 2003 | April Castro

[hoaxbuster1]

AUSTIN - Former acting Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, the only Senate Republican who has vocally opposed congressional redistricting, said Tuesday there's little chance he will seek another term and has contemplated resignation over the current state of the Texas Senate.

"It's a day-to-day or month-to-month decision," said Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant. "I'm getting to the point that I'd rather be playing golf. I enjoy my golf a little more these days."

Speaking publicly for the first time since angrily walking out of a Senate Republican Caucus meeting last week and abruptly returning to Mount Pleasant when his colleagues decided to fine 11 boycotting Democrats, Ratliff was pensive and melancholy.

Asked if he'd considered resignation over the current legislative mess, Ratliff replied "I guess the other day when I went home it occurred to me."

"The tragedy behind all this is that just gradually we're escalating the hostility," Ratliff said. "The real tragedy is that it was all predictable and avoidable. But each step that's taken, just by one more step, destroys the Senate that I knew."

Senate Republicans, last week voted to levy stiff fines on Democrats boycotting the Senate over Republican-led efforts to redraw congressional districts. Days later, to enforce the fines on rebellious senators, Republicans voted to impose sanctions on their offices, including stripping their staffs of cell phones, parking spaces and some mailing privileges until the fines were paid in full.

If Democrats manage to stay in Albuquerque, N.M., until Aug. 26, the end of the second special session, the redistricting legislation would be effectively dead for this session. It would be the third failed attempt by the state's Republican leadership to adopt congressional redistricting and Gov. Rick Perry has indicated he's committed to the issue.

Ratliff predicted that healing the wounds wouldn't come easily to the divided Senate chamber.

"If I thought that it was all going to blow over when it's over, I wouldn't be nearly as distraught about what's going on," he said. "I don't think it's going to blow over. I think it may be a generation before the scars from this are healed and that's what bothers me about it."

Ratliff became acting lieutenant governor - presiding officer of the Senate - when in 2000 then-Lt. Gov. Rick Perry replaced George W. Bush as governor.

[hoaxbuster1]

Ratliff needs to resign!! (I'm calling his office in the morning.) He apparently still lives in a fantasy world; he worries about "current state of the Texas Senate" -- a situation created by 11 runaway obstructionists. If Ratliff believes in their cause so much, let's buy him a ticket to Albuquerque and he and his 11 buddies can have a "lovefest" there.

[MEG33]

What on earth is he thinking?The Dems ran off...we imposed fines and took away some perks.Would he simply do nothing?

[jf55510]

I would be overjoyed if Ratliff resigned. We need a real conservative in that seat.

[sinkspur]

That's right. Ratliff led the Senate last session, and he was a disaster.

This guy is just putting a butt in a seat.

[goldstategop]

Bill Ratliff's a yellow bellied scum RINO. Good riddance!!!

[nightowl]

If you look up RINO in the dictionary, it will have a picture of Ratliff beside it. (Hanging my head in shame) He is my state senator. The last two times he has run, we have written in another candidate. In the last election I wrote in Karen Hughes. I hope he does resign and FOR SURE not run again. We despise him.

[hoaxbuster1]

Why doesn't Ratliff condemn the cowardly 11's escape? Is this Ratliff's idea of "working together"? Ratliff can see the writing on the wall....hopefully, he'll resign...he won't seek re-election because he knows the party is through with him!

[skinkinthegrass]

Bill Ratliff's a yellow bellied scum RINO. Good riddance!!!

11 Little Chickens + RINO (Pea Fowl) = an even dozen...birds of a feather, flock together...give him a dress.

[jern]

question, I have followed this a little in NC. If he voted with the R's would it be enough to break the Dems trip to NM and get this redistricting through?

[Tall_Texan]

The name says it all.

[deport]

Ratliff drew a four year term so he's in till the 06 election... I think he's blowing smoke and will stay....

But would love to see him go. He sided with the dems in the regular session voting not to call up redistricting legislation for Senate consideration......

[deport]

If he voted with the R's would it be enough to break the Dems trip to NM and get this redistricting through?

---

It's not the vote but the warm bodies being in the Senate Chamber, quorum. It takes 2/3rds or 21 Senators to make a quorum..... That's why 11 democrats are away keeping the number down to 20.

To pass the redistricting legislation once a quorum is obtained takes only a majority of which the Republicans have .... Ratliff or no Ratliff

[sarasmom]

Im from Florida, so I dont have a dog in this fight.
I am just cynical enough to enjoy the Texas Spectable and the Kali Self Destruction Gameshow.
ROTFLMAO!
Lock and load.

[jf55510]

Why doesn't Ratliff condemn the cowardly 11's escape? Is this Ratliff's idea of "working together"?

Because in Ratliff's fantasy land the Republicans should have never brought up redistricting because it was divisive issue. And so it is the republicans fault.

[jern]

so could Ratliff showed up could they reach a quorum?

[BOBWADE]

Sounds alot like jumping jim jeffords. We would be better off without him. He either needs to grow a pair of nads or leave.

[demkicker]

"If I thought that it was all going to blow over when it's over, I wouldn't be nearly as distraught about what's going on," he said. "I don't think it's going to blow over. I think it may be a generation before the scars from this are healed and that's what bothers me about it."

What a puss! We should have known that a guy whose last name starts with RAT would side with the RATS.

[xp38]

Anything that makes it much harder for the Dims to regain power (in this case the house) is important on a national scale.

[hoaxbuster1]

Ratliff's opposition to redistricting is not new. On July 14, during the first special session (with the 2/3 rule still in place), Ratliff held a 15 minute press conference announcing his opposition. It's worth a listen!

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/ram/archive/2003/jul/071403RatliffPC.ram