Hotel Oklahoma
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The "Hotel Oklahoma"
-a parody from Stubie Doak
As heard on WBAP!
Posted on 05/15/2003 7:11:29 AM PDT by PhiKapMom
Texans still on the lam in Ardmore (front page article)
2003-05-15
By David Zizzo
The Oklahoman
ARDMORE — Few of the Texas legislators on the lam have left the hotel they’re holed up in. But if the political standoff that brought them here in the dead of night goes on much longer, they might have to venture out. “I’m sure there’s a Wal-Mart around here somewhere,” Texas state Rep. Joe Deshotel of Beaumont said Wednesday.
The 51 Democratic legislators who arrived Monday in Ardmore as part of a parliamentary battle over redistricting might run short of clean laundry if their gambit to deprive the Texas Legislature of a quorum drags on.
“We may have to get some clothes, a golf shirt or some jeans or something,” Deshotel said.
For now, the Democrats are continuing to meet in a conference room at the Holiday Inn, two doors down from the hotel’s Denny’s restaurant, where they get most of their meals.
“They’re pretty much eating here,” said Chris Turner, a “facilitator” hired by the lawmakers to make arrangements for the trip. “They’re staying pretty busy.”
Oklahoma Commerce and Tourism Secretary Kathryn Taylor issued a statement Wednesday welcoming the legislators, saying millions of Texans have discovered Oklahoma is a great vacation getaway or business retreat, “and we’re glad that members of the Texas Legislature have found us, too.”
“While these Texas lawmakers will be leaving us shortly, we certainly hope that they have found our hospitality is first-rate,” she said. “We invite all Texans to come to Oklahoma to clear their heads and enjoy a close, fun and affordable getaway.”
The lawmakers fled the Texas Capitol in Austin, or at least rode out of there, on two chartered buses late Sunday, driving all night until they crossed the Red River. Republican legislative leaders dispatched Texas Rangers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to try to bring them back. The lawmakers refused to return, saying the Texas lawmen have no jurisdiction outside their state.
The road trip was planned to deprive the GOP-controlled Legislature of a quorum, meaning they could take no action on any bills. Democrats are trying to block what they said is an attempt, led by U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, to force state legislators to pass congressional redistricting the Democrats say would heavily favor Republicans for the next decade.
“This is a test case for Tom DeLay,” Deshotel said.
Texas House rules set today as the deadline for preliminary votes on House bills. After that, it would take support of two-thirds of the House to bring a bill to a floor vote. Missing today’s deadline would stymie several major bills, including a budget-balancing government reorganization proposal.
Democrats say they’ll return to Texas if Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick removes the GOP-backed map redrawing the state’s congressional districts from the House agenda. Craddick has said he won’t negotiate.
States must redraw congressional districts every decade to reflect population shifts. A federal court drew Texas’ congressional districts after state lawmakers failed to reach an agreement in 2001, leaving open the possibility that the districts could be redrawn by the Texas Legislature.
Democrats say they are not required by the Constitution to redraw district lines, particularly in a nonredistricting year.
Deshotel said the Democrats probably will be staying in Oklahoma until Friday. They’re studying House rules to see if they might have to stay even longer, he said.
“We’re attempting to find out if there are any bill this could be tacked onto,” he said.
Deshotel said the absent Democrats — 51 of whom are in Ardmore — are getting lots of support from across the country. Their move was “monumental” because it sets a precedent that other states could follow if Republican members of Congress try to force redistricting changes in other states where redistricting is still undecided, he said.
The run for the border has drawn plenty of criticism from Republicans and plenty of attention from everyone else. National media laid siege to the hotel, surrounding it with satellite trucks, and the Democrats’ road show has been the talk of comedians and talk shows.
“I just got off the Pat Buchanan show,” Deshotel said. “Other members have been on other national shows.”
Deshotel said the inevitable jokes “just roll off my back.” Democrats have been poking fun at each other too, he said.
“We’re politicians, and we recognize when an opportunity comes along to make a joke.”
However, their mission is serious and their resolve solid, he said.
“These men and women have strong convictions,” he said. “They’re very, very brave people. Everybody’s still fired up thinking we’re doing the right thing.”
Their Oklahoma welcome has been friendly, if you don’t count the rude awakening early Wednesday. The lawmakers were rousted from their beds about 3:30 a.m. because of a tornado warning. They were forced to take refuge in a basement shelter.
The incident reminded the lawmakers that the eyes of Texas were upon them. Two men who showed up in the shelter were wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Texas Rangers” — the law enforcement agency, not the baseball team, Deshotel said.
“They’re not saying anything to us,” he said. “They’re just watching us.”
Click Here
to listen to
The "Hotel Oklahoma"
-a parody from Stubie Doak
As heard on WBAP!
If it can be proven, this effectively means that the Texas Dems not only evaded a Call of the House, for which they may be arrested and delivered but not prosecuted, but also committed a criminal offense that is punishable by jail time and could theoretically be grounds for an arrest.
Truant Texas Dems violating open meetings law (possible way to arrest them in OK)
Posted on 05/13/2003 9:15 PM PDT by GOPcapitalist
The following letter was sent to the Travis County District Attorney by the Republican Party of Texas today:
>The Hon. Ronnie Earle
>Travis County District Attorney
>509 W.11th St
>Austin, TX 78701
Dear Mr. Earle,
I am confident you are aware that a sizeable group of Democrat legislators have left the Texas State Capitol and gathered in an adjoining state. According to reports from the Department of Public Safety, the majority of the House Democrat Caucus is currently together at a Holiday Inn in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Unfortunately, news reports indicate that the group has been discussing legislative matters. There is a concern that these discussions may actually be a violation of the Open Meetings Laws, because it appears the members on the House Committees on Pensions and Investments, and Land and Resource Management have a majoirty of their members present, thus producing a quorum. If a majority of the members of a House Committee are indeed meeting in secret, without the proper posting requirements being performed, then a clear violation of the Open Meetings Laws of Texas has occurred.
It is clear that a majority of members of several House committees are gathered together and constitute a quorum. I urge you to request a Cease and Desist Order and devote the necessary resources from your office to investigate these matters and protect the right of Texas citizens to have an open government.
Sincerely,
Susan Weddington
Chairman, Republican Party of Texas
Texas Open Meetings Law:
§ 551.143. Conspiracy to Circumvent Chapter; Offense; Penalty
(a) A member or group of members of a governmental body commits an offense if the member or group of members knowingly conspires to circumvent this chapter by meeting in numbers less than a quorum for the purpose of secret deliberations in violation of this chapter.
(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by:
(1) a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500;
(2) confinement in the county jail for not less than one month or more than six months; or
(3) both the fine and confinement.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
§ 551.144. Closed Meeting; Offense; Penalty
(a) A member of a governmental body commits an offense if a closed meeting is not permitted under this chapter and the member knowingly:
(1) calls or aids in calling or organizing the closed meeting, whether it is a special or called closed meeting;
(2) closes or aids in closing the meeting to the public, if it is a regular meeting; or
(3) participates in the closed meeting, whether it is a regular, special, or called meeting.
(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by:
(1) a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500;
(2) confinement in the county jail for not less than one month or more than six months; or
(3) both the fine and confinement.
(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the member of the governmental body acted in reasonable reliance on a court order or a written interpretation of this chapter contained in an opinion of a court of record, the attorney general, or the attorney for the governmental body.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 647, § 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.
I was just wondering if this was addressed yet, I'll bet that is a pretty big bill by now
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