Costs for Democrat exiles may hit $400,000Senators say principles 'priceless'
10:53 PM CDT on Sunday, August 24, 2003
By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Breaking quorums, these days, comes at a significant cost.
For the 11 Democrats holed up in New Mexico, the price tag for blocking the current special session on congressional redistricting could total up to $400,000, and more if Gov. Rick Perry calls another special session on the matter once the current one ends Tuesday.
"Taking a stand for our priorities and Democratic principles: priceless," said Democrat Sen. Eliot Shapleigh of El Paso, who criticized Republicans in Austin for spending $3.4 million on two special sessions. "We must tell you, there is no limit on principle."
That's been the Democratic line since the senators bolted to Albuquerque almost a month ago. But David Beckwith, a spokesman for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, said the Democrats should have saved their money.
"If they had stayed and done the job they were elected to do," he said, "they wouldn't have to worry about those expenses."
Republicans want to boost their numbers in the state's congressional delegation, where Democrats hold a 17-15 majority.
The 11 Democrats dashed to Albuquerque just before Mr. Perry called the second special session for redistricting. The move was prompted by Mr. Dewhurst's decision to remove the traditional two-thirds rule for consideration of bills.
To avoid a redistricting vote, Democrats had used the rule – 21 of the chamber's 31 members must favor bringing up a bill before it can be considered.
Their expenses – ranging from hotel rooms at a Marriott to videoconferences with constituents back home – have been adding up.
San Antonio's Leticia Van de Putte, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said the cost of rooms and incidentals would total at least $100,000. Legal expenses would add up to $300,000 more.
Other money sources
For now, the Democrats are paying the tab out of their own pockets and from campaign funds. Ultimately, they hope to tap some sources for reimbursement:
• A political action committee spawned from the Senate Democratic Caucus that would solicit donations.
• The Texas Democratic Party, which is already running telephone solicitations and is planning various fund-raisers.
• The Texas Democratic Congressional delegation, whose members are benefiting from the senators stand.
• Unsolicited donations from people supportive of the Democrats cause.
To this point, the fund raising has been slow.
Ms. Van de Putte said the senators have raised about $35,000.
"I've had individual contributions come into my office," she said. "One hundred here and fifty dollars there. I think the biggest number was about a thousand."
Rodney Ellis of Houston is head of the Senate Democratic Caucus fund-raising committee. He said his efforts have been hampered because the lawmakers are away from their Texas money-raising base while in exile.
"It's a little difficult to raise money for an effort when you are restricted in where you can go," Mr. Ellis said.
"Most of the support we could get to help fund this effort would come out of Texas."
Help for the senators, though, may be on the way.
The Texas Democratic Party has already started a fund-raising campaign to help the senators, though officials won't disclose how much money they have raised.
"We're absolutely backing them to the hilt," said Jeff Crosby, a consultant for the Texas Democratic Party. "We're going to give them all the resources they need."
The party is also targeting potential donors and supporters through automated telephone calls from Ms. Van de Putte.
"Enough is enough," she says on the recorded message. "We don't want redistricting."
The recording gives listeners a number to call for more information and seeks to develop a posse of anti-redistricting residents to confront Mr. Perry with letters and phone calls.
It comes after Republicans aired pro-redistricting ads in the district of Democratic Sen. Juan Hinojosa.
Republicans, though, say they are not raising money in support of redistricting.
"The obstacle for them [Democrats] is getting their message out," said Ted Royer, a spokesman for the Texas Republican Party. "They have to explain their irresponsible abdication of their duties and that's a tough sell in Texas."
Ms. Van de Putte, though, says the senators are fighting to protect the rights of minorities and rural Texans against a GOP machine.
"Public opinion is on our side," she said. "They told us that they would use all available resources. They said we wouldn't win the PR game because they had more money and would do anything it took to sway public opinion."
Congressional help
Members of the Texas congressional delegation, including Arlington Democrat Martin Frost, are expected to help with some expenses.
At least one congressional delegation lawyer – J. Gerald Hebert – is helping the Democrats with their upcoming federal lawsuit in Laredo.
The suit contends, among other things, that removal of the two-thirds rule violates the voting rights of Texas minorities.
A hearing in Laredo is scheduled Wednesday.
"The members are going to help out in anyway they can," said Jess Fassler, a spokesman for Mr. Frost.
Other than legal bills, the bulk of the senators' expenses are incurred with everyday living in New Mexico.
Hotel rooms, according to Ms. Van de Putte, range from $89 to $100.
Senate staffers often bunk with their members. Several women on Ms. Van de Putte's staff have roomed in her suite.
Other expenses include personal cellphone calls, meals, laundry, faxes, hotel bar tabs and the cost of transporting relatives.
Senators said satellite videoconference equipment, used for at least one day, cost thousands.
Most senators estimate that they may have to pay at least $6,000 each for room, board and incidentals.
Senators have been optimistic about related fund-raising efforts. On Friday, United Steelworkers of America gave the Texas 11 $25,000 for their expenses.
MoveOn.org, a group instrumental in fund raising for Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean, has raised more than $800,000 via an Internet campaign as of Saturday. The group hopes their efforts will total at least $1 million in support of the Texas 11.
That sum will buy media time explaining the cause of the Democrats.
The Democratic National Committee has a similar Internet effort under way.
Democrats have complained that the use of Capitol facilities to hold news conferences and state lawyers to wage court battles gives Republicans an unfair advantage.
"One of the reasons that the members of Congress are helping out is that Republicans are using taxpayer dollars for their legal expenses," said Mr. Fassler, the Frost spokesman.
Mr. Beckwith said it was the Democrats who created the costly fight with their quorum-busting tactics.
"The expenses they have racked up in Albuquerque are modest compared to what they have cost taxpayers with their absence from work," he said.
E-mail gjeffers@dallasnews.com
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/082503dntexdembills.d2b4.html
LMAO! If they didn't have outside special interests pay their bills to the tune of $400,000 I doubt they would defend their "priceless" principles!
One can only hope that the citizens of Texas are so fed up with this they vote the Dims out of office.
Prairie
Texas should really prosecute the Party under the RICO statute to make Texas taxpayers whole.
Wouldn't THAT be fair & just? I wonder why they WON'T?<<<<retoricle question.
This "rural Texan", who also happens to be a minority does not want any "help" from idiots like Van de Puke. I just want to "help" her get kicked out of office.
"Hotel rooms, according to Ms. Van de Putte, range from $89 to $100.
I looked up the hotel they are staying in online and it said the rooms are $150/night. They must be getting a great deal on them somehow.
"Other expenses include personal cellphone calls, meals, laundry, faxes, hotel bar tabs and the cost of transporting relatives. "
1. They must have a sucky cell service provider.
2. Hotel bar tabs? I bet that's a huge bill. What kind of moron wants to help pay for them to drink?
3. They can't do their own laundry? Most nice hotels let you use the laundry room free.
4. Their relatives should transport themselves.
I can't believe anyone would donate money to pay for all that crap.
"United Steelworkers of America gave the Texas 11 $25,000 for their expenses."
Do we have to boycott steel now?
