Posted on 09/11/2003 2:45:31 PM PDT by Libloather
Democrats await next session on redistricting
By JOHN W. GONZALEZ and ARMANDO VILLAFRANCA
Sept. 10, 2003, 11:09PM
LAREDO -- Ten Democratic state senators ended their quorum-busting, six-week sojourn in New Mexico on Wednesday with a vow to resume their redistricting fight in Austin if a former ally from Houston helps make a Senate quorum when lawmakers convene in special session Monday.
The senators came here first because three federal judges will hold a hearing in Laredo today on the Democrats' bid to derail the Republican-backed effort to redraw Texas' congressional district boundaries.
Although the senators' absence precluded Senate action in the recent second special session called by Gov. Rick Perry, the defection from their ranks of Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, made it more likely the Senate could conduct business next week after achieving a quorum. But each of the returning senators told the 100 supporters who greeted them at the airport that a fierce partisan battle was looming.
"We are here in Texas to continue the fight," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.
"We are here because one member of the Texas 11 chose to come back to make a quorum. And because he changed the strategy, we returned. But all that is changing is the arena. We will fight every day in every way until we win," she said.
Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston said ultimately at stake in this protracted battle is which major party controls Congress. He called the redistricting effort a "bloodless, electionless coup" designed to boost GOP ranks in the U.S. House.
"Every once in a while you've got to say `Ya basta!' (Enough!)," Ellis said.
Added Sen. Mario Gallegos, also of Houston: "I am proud to be standing on this stage with these brave Texans."
The senators, who arrived by chartered plane, left New Mexico adamant that their hiatus was productive.
"As we leave, today we just pitch camp and go to another battlefield," Gallegos said in Albuquerque. "Our goal was to give people time. They asked us for time, we gave them time. We have basically held up the redistricting process.
"I think we have given them precious time, our folks, the congressional delegation, our constituents, the 1.4 million being affected. We have given them 45 days," he said.
The group's last day in Albuquerque was spent packing and regrouping, since several of the senators spent the weekend in Philadelphia, Miami and elsewhere.
Partly due to short notice, a farewell luncheon in Albuquerque drew only a dozen supporters, including representatives of organized labor and hotel officials at the Marriott where they ended their holdout.
But senators took time to reflect on their self-imposed exile in New Mexico, the significance of their holdout and the warm reception they received in Albuquerque.
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio said the senators were treated like family during the stay, which helped offset the hardship of being away from family and the financial burden they bore.
"It has been an adventure, it has been a saga. What it is all about is democracy, and I hope the word still goes forth that we shall fight not only from Albuquerque but from the floor of the Senate, the floor of the House," said state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin.
"Each of us has defining moments in our lives. For us this has been a defining moment to defend democracy. What we are witness to is a national pattern of abuse on a democracy that we hold so dear," said state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh of El Paso.
"We are 11 who have seen history. When rules are changed by a minority just for the purpose of winning, democracy loses and we are going to tell that story over and over again because that story is important to Texas and to America," Shapleigh said.
The senators said they will not be the ones to restore the quorum. Until a quorum is established, they said they will remain in their districts.
"As this fight moves to the Senate floor, I expect the people of Waco and Lubbock and Abilene and east Texas to come forward with their concerns. We have carried that fight until now, now it is their turn to let their voices be heard," Shapleigh said.
Ellis and Gallegos will be honored tonight at a homecoming event at 7:30 p.m. at Houston's Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church at 3826 Wheeler.
Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., members of the Texas Democratic delegation -- who could face the redrawing of their congressional districts -- applauded the 10 boycotting senators for their efforts.
"The Texas Senators are true heroes. They have and will continue to work for the people of Texas and ensure the rights of all Texans are protected," said. U.S. Rep. Gene Green of Houston.
Standing next to a large mock check made out for $20.6 million from Texas taxpayers to pay for estimated redistricting costs, members said Texans need to oppose the third special session.
"In calling a third session for Monday, the governor has demonstrated he is more interested in the priorities of Tom DeLay than in the priorities of the people of Texas," Green said, adding that his district would be split three ways under the proposed map.
DeLay, R-Sugar Land, has been pushing for redistricting, saying the state's congressional delegation should have a Republican majority to reflect statewide voting. Democrats currently hold a 17-15 majority.
Jonathan Grella, a spokesman for DeLay, dismissed the delegation's opposition and efforts to defeat redistricting.
"(U.S. Rep.) Martin Frost and the Democrats should reimburse the state of Texas for orchestrating these walkouts and costing the taxpayers of Texas massive sums of money because of their partisan and self-interest political strategy," Grella said.
The members also expressed disappointment in Whitmire for his return to Texas.
"He was bit by the arrogance of the Republican Party," said U.S. Rep. Max Sandlin, D-Marshall.
Gonzalez reported from Laredo, Villafranca from Albuquerque. Chronicle reporter Melissa Drosjack contributed to this article from Washington.
Next stop: Extinction.
As the Demoncrats continue to shift Left (far left); they risk falling off the face of the political scene. But not to worry for those seeking big socialistic government: the Republicans have been slowly but surely sucked into the vacuum, following the Dems leftward. The GOP of today is the Democratic Party of forty-some years ago.
My question is: when are conservatives going to create a viable political party that stands up for the Constitution and the principles upon which our country was founded?
Already have. It's called the Contsitution Party.
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