Posted on 05/14/2003 7:50:24 PM PDT by Stultis
Posted at 10:05 AM on Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Texas Democrats commended in Oklahoma House resolution
By JESSICA DICKERSON
Associated Press Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma's Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday commending Texas Democratic House members who fled that state to stifle redistricting plans they opposed.
A Republican-supported resolution that would encourage Oklahoma officials to assist Texas officials in returning the errant lawmakers to Texas failed.
The resolution commending the lawmakers, by Rep. David Braddock, D-Altus, came after dozens of Texas Democrats fled Austin, Texas, after discussing ways to derail a Republican plan to redraw Texas' congressional districts.
The absence of 58 Democrats on Monday left the 150-member Texas House short of the two-thirds quorum needed to conduct business.
The rebellious Democrats holed up in an Ardmore hotel.
The House resolution commends the courage of the Texas Democrats who "have decided to defend the rights of the minority and the more pressing needs of Texas families."
The resolution charges that a Texas congressman and the majority leadership of the House are more concerned with adding Republican members to Congress than the educational, health and other needs of Texas families.
The Democrats earlier blamed Republican U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay for interfering with redistricting.
"I don't think they're breaking their oath of office," Braddock said of the Texas Democrats. "I think they're all fulfilling it by trying to meet the needs of those that have no voice."
Some House members were concerned that a similar move could occur in Oklahoma if the House supports the Texas lawmakers.
Braddock responded by saying members of the Oklahoma House are better at working together than their Texas counterparts.
The resolution, HR 1020, passed 47-44.
Another resolution, by Rep. Greg Piatt, R-Ardmore, requested that Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, Commissioner of Public Safety Bob Ricks, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other law enforcement officials assist Texas officials in returning the errant lawmakers to Texas.
Braddock commented that he wanted the Texas Democrats to stay in Oklahoma.
"This is economic development at its best," he quipped. "We want Texans coming to spend their money in Oklahoma."
The resolution, HR 1019, failed 50-46.
The resolutions do not have the force of law.
In a humorous moment, Rep. Ron Kirby, D-Lawton, read a proposal to grant Texas legislators political amnesty, welcome them to Oklahoma and grant them the honorary title of "Okie."
The proposal also called for a Cub Scout troop to be dispatched to the Red River to protect Oklahoma's border from Texas Rangers.
The idea met with laughter from most, with an occasional "boo."
Earlier Tuesday, Henry said he welcomed the Texas lawmakers, but was "not going to get embroiled in this political fight."
Republican State Chairman Gary Jones criticized Henry for allowing Oklahoma to become a safe haven for the Texas Democrats.
"These Democrat legislators south of our border are wasting taxpayers' money," Jones said. "They are behaving in an obstructionist manner and it's a publicity stunt, plain and simple. I'm embarrassed Gov. Henry and our Democrat-controlled House of Representatives would condone such a childish stunt."
Just my rule of thumb. If it is playing bad for the demo's you will not hear it on the top of the hour radio reports or see it played up in the newspapers. Most radio station journalists get their national news from their national affiliates, ABC I believe having the most affiliates and most local papers get their national news off the AP wire.
JMO, but the silence by the national media says to me that this is not going well for the democrats.
THOUGHTLESS, and UNCARING behavior.
WANTED IN TEXAS
Redistricting is always bitter and always will be. The majority wins; the minority loses. The only difference this time is that the Texas House for the first time in 130 years has a Republican majority.
I would suggest, however, that the issue this week is not redistricting; it's responsibility.
I wonder how many Chronicle readers in Southeast Texas are singing the praises -- as the paper is -- of the 50-odd Democrats who fled the state? Because they're not here, there is no quorum in the Texas House and bills cannot be heard.
While the Democrats stood on the balcony of an Ardmore, Okla., Holiday Inn and insulted Texas state troopers sent there to bring them back to Texas, 95 Republicans and Democrats were here, ready to work.
We want the fugitive legislators to return. We will welcome them back. There is still much work to be done. They are making a huge mistake. Here's why: The taxpayers of Texas are paying approximately $33,000 a day to keep the House open and ready for business. That includes the $125 per diem each of the mutineers is drawing.
While they're encamped just across the state line, bills die daily by the dozens, bills that promise some $650 million in revenues. Less revenue means that a budget already in crisis by projected revenue shortfalls will be stretched even thinner.
It also means Gov. Rick Perry will likely call us back to Austin for a special session on the budget. Returning the House and Senate to Austin costs about $1.7 million per 30-day session.
All this because Democrats are afraid to participate in the process. The Chronicle's position, in its Tuesday editorial, that it is "difficult to fault them" ... "if they believe their principles are worth fighting for," was no surprise. The paper staked out its opposition to redistricting in an April 26 editorial and again on Wednesday.
I would suggest, though, that the Chronicle has backed itself into a corner. Praising people who flee from their constitutional responsibilities, who hide out in another state and evade the law, who aren't here to greet schoolchildren and other constituents who come to call at the Capitol, is irresponsible itself. As I stated above, in 1991 the roles were reversed. Democrats had 93 seats; Republicans 57 (today, it's 88 Republicans, 62 Democrats). Gov. Ann Richards had to call a special session that summer and lawmakers drew a map that was so egregious that every single Republican member of the House voted against it. Then we went to court to fight it, and we lost again.
Maybe we Republicans should have taken a walk in 1991. Would the Chronicle have praised us, as the paper does the Democrats today?
But to my way of thinking, that's not the Texas way. Since the Alamo, Texans have defended what they stood for -- not by running away, but by fighting for a cause. It's no disgrace to stand and fight, but it is a disgrace to run and hide.
On my office wall is a framed photo of Teddy Roosevelt, along with an exhortation from the former president that I think describes the values of the Chronicle Editorial Board. Here's what T.R. said: "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who does actually try to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in the worthy cause ... who if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly."
If I give in on this issue, what's to prevent a group of 51 from walking next week on some other issue? Giving in would set a terrible precedent for this and future Legislatures. So come on back into the arena, Democrats. You need to be here and be part of the process. [End]
I thought that was a conservative State!
I hope that the good people of Oklahoma are watching how Democrats stick together when they break the law and abuse their oaths of office!
Lincoln wrote that when a constitutionally elected majority is not allowed to function by the minority you have anarchy.
The Deomcrats have shown that since with Florida and the attempt to steal the election with Gore, they have no concern about this nation, only their own poliical power.
It is so bad that it has to pay people to buy it (40$ worth of food)
So, the DemoRats are defending "the pressing needs of Texas families" by hiding out in a hotel in Oklahoma. Whatever. They might as well live it up because they'll be out of a job real soon.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.