Demos give up state pay in walkout

elpasotimes.com | Thursday, May 15, 2003 | Gary Scharrer Austin Bureau

[FryingPan101]

ARDMORE, Okla. -- It may not cost the runaway Democrats favor with their constituents, but busing up to an Oklahoma hotel this week will cost them in the pocketbook.

The 51 Democrats who fled Austin on Sunday night to prevent the Texas House from acting on a controversial redistricting bill have decided to give up the $124 daily state allowance for conducting official business.

They will also pay their own hotel rooms (about $90 a night) and share expenses for food, office equipment and the two chartered buses that thrust them into the national spotlight.

"It's costing us personally," Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, said. "We feel that's something that is easy for us to bear, given the stakes here. And I think that our districts would probably think it's OK."

State law forbids legislators from accepting political contributions from lobbyists and supporters during a legislative session. So the renegade Democrats can't take goodwill contributions to help cover costs.

Members, however, are sharing Holiday Inn hotel rooms to pare some of the expenses.

The Democrats have converted a hotel conference room into their legislative office. A sign on the door says: "The only delay is Tom DeLay"

DeLay is the majority leader in the U.S. House and the driving force for a drawing of new congressional districts in Texas.

The Republicans push for a redistricting battle precipitated the Democrats' walk.

They have started each day with a Scripture reading, an invocation and a roll call. Most members respond "here" as their name is called.

El Paso freshman legislator Chente Quintanilla offered a different response Wednesday morning: "As long as it takes," he answered.

The group broke into cheers and applause when all 51 members were "present and accounted for" on the third day of their self-imposed exile. It takes 51 members to block a quorum. Four other Democrats, including El Paso's Norma Chávez, remain secluded somewhere else, reportedly in South Texas.

After their roll call, the Democrats remaining in Oklahoma close the doors for a private meeting. Democrat and Republican caucus meetings in the Capitol are routinely closed to the media and the public.

The Oklahoma-based meeting is no different, Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, said: "It's a Democrat Caucus meeting, which are always closed to the media, unless we invite them in."

The private discussions don't involve "up or down" votes, Coleman said.

"This is consensus. The members do everything by consensus, and it's all voluntary," he said.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I can't express how deeply saddened I am that these Rats have to open their own wallets for a change.

[MJY1288]

This whole situation should come to a close very quickly now that the RATS are having to use their own nickel to pay for these shinanaghans

[Ann Archy]

So....is this supposed to make it all right??? That they MIGHT pay for their own rooms???? I don't think they really will because they are LIARS, CHEATS and FRAUDS.

[tdadams]

Somebody ought to get a court injunction compelling them to do their jobs or face a heavy fine. Make them pay big time for trying to hijack the state government contrary to the wishes of the voters.

[isthisnickcool]

I can't express how deeply saddened I am that these Rats have to open their own wallets for a change.

No way they are using personal money. It does not work that way. EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the legislature has some kind of nonprofit corp. they have people donate money to. These "groups" fund all sorts of stuff.

These people never use their own money. Never!

[Chewbacca]

It isn't their nickel, it is yours.
Politicians are paid with tax payer supplied money.

[texjan]

I heard on the Austin news last night that although they claim this, only one of them have actually turned in the paperwork asking for his pay to be withheld. Hmmm...

[Redleg Duke]

Yeah, right. In other words, the DNC is footing the bill and paying off the RATS-In-Hiding.

[blackdog]

Nothing said about losing their pay? Their salaries are still being paid! No difference in hiding out in a hotel over ego or hiding out in a hotel with a hooker. Bragging that you have to pay in either case is really arrogant.

I would send all the transvestite freaks I could dig up, supply them with all the Viagra and crystal meth they want and send them to the hotel bar with some ropes, handcuffs, cameras and tranquilizers.

A fisting caucass.

[MJY1288]

True, but It's being deducted out of their checkbook and not the Texas budget

[Iowa Granny]

We need a sleuth in TX who is willing to check the activity of the AWOL's Campaign accounts.

At some point in time, they will be required to file a report with the state listing debits and credits. I'd guess we will find that most of these folks will be paying their hotel, bus, food from their campaign accounts, NOT from the personal checkbooks.

[GailA]

Hmm aren't they breaking TX's Sunshine Laws by meeting in a motel room...especially a motel room in OK?

[txoilman]

The party of Abortion reading scripture. The only god listening and supporting them is Satan. Best of luck dummies!

[Havoc]

They are breaking laws already. Since when did the law mean anything to a democrat? The only way they're getting back to texas by tomorrow is if they are arrested and taken back by bounty hunters. Where the pubbies are geographically doesn't seem to affect whether they have nards or not(sept for Bush), so don't hold your breath on bounty hunters. If it gets done it'll be us doing it..

[prairiebreeze]

Members, however, are sharing Holiday Inn hotel rooms to pare some of the expenses.

Eight DemocRATS sharing a two-bed room is a disgusting image.

Prairie

[mass55th]

"Somebody ought to get a court injunction compelling them to do their jobs or face a heavy fine."

Don't most governments have strike or work stoppage laws for its employees? They should be brought up on charges by the state, disciplined and/or fined.